Oral Contraceptive Pills

You will start taking the pill on a day determined with you and your gyno. If you start on the first day of your period, you are protected immediately. If you start any other time, you are protected after 7 days of using a back up method (condoms or whatever).

You will take the active pills for three weeks, at the same time every day. (Remember that first week you were using back up protection). Then on the fourth week, you will take the inactive pills for a week or 4 days depending on your pill, they are usually a different color. It doesn't actually matter if you take them, they are just reminders so you don't get out of the habit of taking pills. You will probably get your period at this time. When the inactive pills are gone, you will immediately begin your next pack of pills, with the first active pill.

After those first seven days, you are protected against pregnancy every day (including during the inactive week) until you stop taking the pill or screw it up.


Hope that helps...

That was well said.

Just to let you know, not all birth control pills have inactive/placebo pills. With some brands of pills, you have a pill-free week instead.

For example, my pills come in packs of 21 (3 weeks), and all of them are active pills. At the end of taking pills for 21 days, I have a pill-free week, then start the next pack.

Since you are just starting out taking the pill for the first time, it would probably be easiest to get a brand that has placebo pills, so you are taking a pill every single day and can stay in the habit easier.

Just to reiterate, you only need to use backup contraceptive (i.e. condoms) for the first 7 days of your first pack. After that you are protected every day of every month after that. You don't have to use a backup method each time you start a new pack - just for the first pack.

Also, you are fully protected during the pill-free (or placebo/reminder pill) week.

If you have any other specific questions, we'd be happy to answer.

Thanks for the replies.

I should have mentioned earlier but I already take the pill (Cileste brand). I've taken it since I was 13 for bad period pains and heavy periods. I normally take them continuously for 3-6 months before having a break.

Something that confused me slightly was if I have to get my partner to use a condom on that fourth "break" week but from the sounds of it, am I protected then too?

And since my body is already used to the pill, does that first week with a condom not apply to me?

Thanks again for your help.

Lol. My pack has the days of the week labelled right on it (no stickers), and it isn't a wheel, each pill is individually bubble packed on a rectangle - where you press the pill through the foil to get it out.

I always know where I am because it goes in a big circle and I go clockwise. Sometimes I look at the pack and think "Thursday?!? Oh my gosh, is today Thursday???? Yes, it's Thursday. PHEW!"

I don't have too much trouble remembering not to take them... because I really really really don't want to get pregnant.

Another idea (for the original poster, or anyone else) is to set an alarm on your watch or on your cellphone to remind you to take the pill at the same time each day. That reminds me, you don't have to take it at the exact same time every day. As long as you're within a few hours each day it's okay, but to be on the safe side make it as close to the same time as possible.

Thanks for more answers.

To be honest I was kind of worried about how to use the pill but my mind is more at rest now for when that time comes lol.