How long until protected by the pill

While it is okay to start birth control before your period, it will take longer for you to be protected from pregnancy. For this reason, many doctors recommend taking it towards the end of your period or immediately after it ends. Some pill packs contain placebo pills, which do not contain any hormones. When these pills are taken, you will bleed. This is not a period, but rather withdrawal bleeding that occurs due to lack of hormone. It is also possible to skip your periods altogether by only taking pills that contain the hormone.

You may experience spotting during the first few months on the pill, as it takes some time for your body to adjust to the new hormones. However, over time, you should notice lighter, more consistent periods. It is possible to get pregnant, even if you take birth control. A common cause is taking the pill inconsistently i. Furthermore, if you take the pill l ess than you are supposed to — this depends on your specific pack — you are at a greater risk of becoming pregnant.

Get Started. When does birth control start working? Combination pills contain two hormones — estrogen and progestin — that prevent ovulation. If a person takes the first dose within 5 days of their period starting, it is effective immediately. If they start at any other time, the pill takes 7 days to work.

After having a baby, most people can start taking these pills on day 21 after delivery, and they are effective immediately. Following a pregnancy loss or termination, the pill starts working at once if the person starts taking it within 5 days. If not, the pill takes 7 days to become effective. However, it is best to speak with a doctor, because the trimester can influence the effectiveness of this pill. Identifying the start of menstruation is not always easy.

Here, find other telltale signs of a period and learn how pregnancy spotting is different. However, most people miss a dose from time to time. Learn more about the types of birth control pill. A healthcare professional inserts an intrauterine device IUD into the uterus.

It contains copper, which interferes with the process of fertilization. An IUD that contains hormones becomes effective right away if a doctor inserts it within 7 days of a period starting. Otherwise, it takes 7 days. Depending on the type, these last 3—6 years. Here, find some tips on choosing an IUD. The birth control implant is a tiny rod that a doctor inserts under the skin in the upper arm. It releases progestin and prevents ovulation. If a doctor inserts the device during the first 5 days of a cycle, the implant works immediately.

Otherwise, it takes 7 days to reach full effectiveness. As with all methods of birth control, however, there is always a small chance of pregnancy.

The birth control patch prevents ovulation by releasing estrogen and progestin. A person applies a new patch each week for 3 weeks. Birth Control Pill. Current as of: November 2, Go to Top. Home About MyHealth.

Include Images Large Print. Take 1 pill right away this might mean you take 2 pills on the same day. Continue to take 1 pill every day until the end of the pack. Use a backup form of birth control e. The combined pill is Nearly one in ten women 9 per cent taking the Pill may still get pregnant. The effectiveness is reduced because women take it irregularly, or because they have diarrhoea and vomiting, or they take medicine that can affect pill absorption.

You are not protected against pregnancy until you have taken hormonal pills for seven days. It is important to not be more than 24 hours late when taking the combined pill. Serious health problems with the Pill are rare. Smoking increases the risk of harmful effects. The Pill is not suitable for women with the following conditions:. In any of these scenarios, keep taking the Pill but use some other form of contraception e.

BUT if these seven days run into the end of your packet then miss the seven inactive pills and start taking the hormone pills in the next packet. If you are not sure which pills are inactive, ask your doctor or local pharmacist. Some newer versions of the Pill are effective from the first day they are taken.