QuestionHello! I just recently received my first birth control prescription for Lutera. The doctor told me to start the Sunday after my period ends. However, my period is almost always late (why I decided to start birth control) which means I would start the pack one week later than I should. If I am late and I start the pack on time, I will be on my period for 2 very important vacations (both are in a few months).
If my period is late, could I start my birth control pack 2 Sundays after I was told to? Instead of taking it the Sunday after my period is over, I would take it 1 week later than that. This would put my period after the two very important vacations. Would doing this mess me up somehow?
My boyfriend and I have decided to become sexually active but we won't be able to have sex until mid-March. I would start the pack 1 month before we have sex. We are planning on always using a condom. I am not sexually active right now nor have I ever been so pregnancy should not be an issue.
Thanks so much!
AnswerOne of the reasons for starting the pill during or just after a period is that you'll be less likely to have breakthrough bleeding the first month or so on the pill. For that reason, I would recommend starting the first Sunday after your period STARTS. Once you're on the pill for a month, it's easy to have your period come whenever you want. To delay a period, just keep taking the active pills. You can bring on the next period sooner, but it's important to remember that you need to take the active pills for 21 days to maintain the birth control effectiveness over the 7 day break. In your case, I'd start the pill with your next period, then after 1 month on the pill, figure out when you wish to have your next period and take the pills to cause that. If you haven't had sex yet, it will be easy to bring on a period early. Just remember, for the birth control effect, you need to take the active pills for at least 21 days, and never go more than 7 days without active pills.
