QuestionDrea Jean,
I would like to start off with saying how grateful I am for all of the information and support you've given me in the past couple of days. It looks like I got my period a little while ago. It's really super light, so I still have a little paranoia that it may just end up being spotting.
I just want to make sure that I am ABSOLUTELY 100% sure I know EXACTLY how to continue using my birth control. Say I've started my period today, Tuesday, I will start my brand NEW pack of pills Sunday, 5 days from now, wait at least 7 days before having sex.
Also, since the inactive pills contain no hormone, that means there is a full week without being on "the pill," so is there a greater risk for becoming pregnant in the first week of every new pill pack? If not, why?- By the end of the 21 active pills, is that enough hormone to carry through the inactive week?
Thanks Drea Jean. I can't even tell you how grateful I am for your advice.
Sincerely,
~Cassie~
AnswerHey,
Glad to hear the good news, and now you don't have to worry. YEAH!!
Okay, there are 2 diffrent ways to start the pills.
Sunday Start: Start the pill the first Sunday following your period. In your case, you would start it April 30th. For the first week on your pills, you should use a back-up method, like a condom. After that, you don't need one.
1st day start: You can start your pills within the first 24 hours of your period. In your case you could start today. Most pill packs will come with a little strip of stickers. You will find the one that is labled Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and stick that over the pre-printed days on the top of the pack. Or, you can take an ink pen or sharpie, depending on the pack, and mark over the pre-printed days. That way you won't be confused. If you start today, you do not need a back up method at all.
Birth Control works on hormones, mainly Progestrone and Estrogen. The 3 active pill weeks do three things to protect pregnancy. They tell your body not to ovulate, so you can't become pregnant, they thicken the cervial discharge so sperm can't get through as easily, and they make the lining of your uterus that builds up in case you do get pregnant thinner, so that IF you do become pregnant, your body won't sustain the pregnancy.
The inactive pills are nothing but "sugar" pills. When you get to those, your body has already done what it has needed to prevent pregnancy, and is preparing for a period, so you can not get pregnant. As soon as the next pack starts, you begin your protection process all over again, so it is safe to have sex ALL month long, and you will not need any kind of back up method as long as you take your pills correctly. You are just as protected on the first day of active pills as you are on the last day of inactive pills, protection lasts all month long.
Take one pill everyday, about the same time. It's okay to be late a few hours sometimes, like maybe you take your pills every night at 6:00, but one night your away from the house, and don't get back until 9:30. Its ok, your still protected, take that pill when you can.
If you miss one pill, it's okay. Maybe you forget to take a Friday pill altogether, and when you go to take your pill on Saturday, you see you missed it. All you do is take it as soon as you know you missed it, even if it means taking two pills at the same time. You are still protected, and don't need a back up method.
Your pill packet information will tell you what to do if you miss more than one pill. If that happens, follow the directions perfectly, so you can still be safe from pregnancy.
Good Luck to you Cassie, and if you ever need anything else, you know where I am!
Drea Jean
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