When do i start taking birth control pills

Intermittent spotting and a little irregular bleeding are very common in women who are first starting the birth control pill. This also means you may not start your period on the first day of your sugar pills, but rather with one of the later ones in the week. These benefits may include:. In this case, you will not need backup protection. Birth control pills contain hormones that work to help prevent pregnancy. Your doctor or medical professional may also prescribe the pill to help manage irregular periods, control acne, etc.

Whether you are switching from one oral contraceptive to another, or you are starting for the first time, a common question is: When should I start taking the birth control pill? Naturally, most people would prefer to begin taking their birth control pills as soon as they receive them. In short, it is entirely acceptable to start taking your birth control pills at any point during your cycle. However, starting your first birth control pill in a more strategic fashion can also be beneficial.

There are a few different ways that you can consider when deciding when to take your first pill:. The Quick Start Method: For this method, you simply take your first birth control pill on the same day that you get them from the pharmacy.

Continue taking your pills every day as directed. Use another method of birth control a condom, for example for the first seven days after starting your pills if you plan on having sexual intercourse. The Fifth-Day Start Method: For the fifth-day start method, wait until the fifth day of your period before taking your first pill. Waiting until the fifth day will help ensure that you are protected against pregnancy as soon as you start taking your pills.

The Sunday Start Method: Starting your birth pill on Sunday and continuing to take them every day as directed will help ensure that you do not get your period on weekends.

This method is an excellent option for anyone, but especially those who have activities on the weekend and would prefer to be period-free. Once you have your birth control pack, you may want to start right away. Before you swallow that first pill, there are some things to note.

First, look at what type of pill it is. For combination pills, or pills that contain both estrogen and progestin, Sherry Ross, M. That means you should use condoms or another form of birth control during your first week of starting birth control pills. After one week, the pills will protect against pregnancy. You can also start progestin-only pills midcycle. After those two days, your birth control pills should be able to provide protection against pregnancy.

Shop for condoms online at Amazon. Because the pill is meant to mimic your menstrual cycle while preventing ovulation, Ross says starting the pill on the first day of your cycle or the first Sunday after your cycle starts is recommended. Because of this, you may experience irregular bleeding while your body adjusts.

This irregular bleeding, or spotting, is almost a given during your first pack, but it could linger as long as a couple of months. Be sure to plan accordingly. It mostly comes down to convenience. You may even want to skip your next period, which would affect when you start your pills. If you want to delay or even skip your next period, starting midcycle might make more sense for you, says Fahimeh Sasan, D.

According to Ross, any potential benefits are outweighed by the side effects that can come with starting midcycle. Because the hormone levels of the pill pack are meant to coincide with your natural monthly cycle, how much you stray from your normal monthly cycle will affect how well you adjust to adding more hormones into your system at exactly the wrong times.

That means following all directions from your doctor and taking them at the same time every day. If you decide to start midcycle, make sure you know when pregnancy protection starts. Fifth-day start. On the fifth day of your menstrual period, take your first pill. Your daily pill routine Take your hormone pills every day, at about the same time of day.

To stay on track and prevent pregnancy, try these easy tricks: footnote 1 Pick a time. Link up your "pill time" with something you do every day, like brushing your teeth, eating a meal, or going to bed.

Use your calendar. Mark the days you will start new packs. You might even want to cross off each day you take your pill. Check again. Each morning, check your pack to be sure you took yesterday's pill.

If you find you've missed one, take it right away.