Missed Period After Birth Control & unprotected sex - What to Do?

Question
QUESTION: I finished my last pack of birth control pills (Loestrin) on July 8th. I did not take the iron pills that go with them. I had sex on Friday July 11th with my boyfriend and for one I should say that I am very fertile due to past experiences. We did not use protection and he did not pull out. I was suppose to start my period that weekend but never did. I have been told different things about Loestrin that you might not have a period or whatever. However, I havent gotten back on the pill so I would have assumed that I would have started my period by now. I am afraid that I might be pregnant. It is now July 23rd and I have still not started my period but pregnancy tests came back negative. What would you assume that it would be? When should I have started my period? My periods were always regular so I knew when I would start. Please help me to figure this out! Thank you in advance. I did however skip my iron pills last month so I wouldnt have a period and it worked but I have done that before with Yaz and always had my period the next month. Please help!! Thanks!!

ANSWER: Hello,

If your pregnancy tests came back negative, I would not be concerned that you are pregnant.  The pill can take several months to fully leave your body and for your ovulation and regular periods to return.  It is impossible to say when your period will start, it all depends on when you begin ovulating again.  When on the pill, you do not ovulate.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I had been looking back to see when I last had my period because I had skipped a period through my birth control and for some reason I accidently took my pills early (how I don't know) but I finished my pack on that tuesday and according to calculations shouldn't have finished it until that friday the 11th. I have no clue how I did that but does that make my pills become less effective? I have been on birth control before I had my son and got off and started immediately because I am assuming the hormones were out of my system. This has just never happened to me before so I am just really confused. Would a pregnancy test show positive if I was in fact pregnant this early? And would I even be fertile if I messed up on my pills and took them wayyyy to early?

Answer
Hello,

Taking your pills at the incorrect times can make them less effective.  A pregnancy test can show if you're pregnant up to 4 days before the day your period is due.  However, if you were taking the pills, even on the incorrect day, it would be unlikely that you'd get pregnant, although there is always a slight possibility.  I would test again to see if you're pregnant, just to be sure, a few days after your last test.