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| Fri, 11-12-2004 - 11:28am |
my daughter just recently started Yasmin birth control, but asked me her taking it two weeks after her period would have any affect and how soon the birth control would take affect. I did not have an answer for her, can someone help?

It's recommended that women starting BCPs start them on day one of their periods or on the first Sunday after their period starts. Waiting for a period before beginning assures the user isn't pg before starting and her hormones will be at their lowest level. A first day starter will be protected immediately. Starting any day other than day one she will be protected after taking 7 active pills consecutively and correctly. However, many doctors and this board recommend using back-up for the entire first cycle while she is learning to take her pills correctly. That way if she is late, forgets a pill or AF is on a different schedule or of a different consistency or duration she will know she was protected and won’t have a case of ‘pregnancy paranoia’. Beginning her pills two weeks into her cycle put the hormones from her pills on top of her natural ones and might have made her more uncomfortable than if she had begun on day one. Starting that late may have been too late to suppress ovulation this cycle. If she ovulates she will get her period about two weeks later regardless of where she is in her pack. If that happens she should continue taking all the pills in her pack and be sure to start the next pack on time. Her body will be adjusting to the hormones for the first three or four cycles so she may experience some annoying side effects that usually disappear after adjustment. Since she is new to BCPs you might want to have her read the posts 'How the pill works', 'Taking your pills correctly', 'Common pill side effects' and 'Irregular bleeding anyone?' in the FAQs. Let us know how she's doing, ok?
Good luck,
Jill