QuestionIs there any reason in terms of effectiveness that one is supposed to start a new pack of pills either on the first day of one's period or the Sunday after?
Would it be just as effective to start on a random Thursday (meaning after a week, you'd be protected, just like on the Sunday start) or would you have to use a backup method for a whole cycle?
AnswerThe only reason to use the Sunday Start method is that it ensures that your menses will occur during the week not weekends.
Theoretically, your pills are effective from the seventh day if you start using the Sunday Start or the Day 5 Start (within the first 5 days of period) cycle. However, for practical purposes you should not consider yourself safe until the end of the first cycle. If you take them regularly, you are protected from then on, even during the week of no birth control pills. Using the Day 1 (first day of period) start, you are protected from pregnancy right away, since you are taking the pill at the beginning of your period, thus interrupting your natural hormonal cycle at the beginning.
Hope this helps :)
