Other Helpfulinformation About Starting Birth Control
Starting to take the medication right with the onset of yourperiod is preferable because youre protected from pregnancy immediately. Ovulationwill be prevented right from the first month of you taking the pill. If youstart taking the pill on the day your period stops, your chances of becomingpregnant are as low as possible.
Alternately, if you start taking the pills mid-cycle thenyou would have to use a separate birth control method for the first 7 days. Keepin mind as well that there is a bit of a hormonal adjustment period when youstart taking birth control medication, but yes you can start birth controlbefore your period or after it has begun.
Its also best to start taking the pill soon after you finishwith the menstrual flow because this is when your bodys natural estrogenlevels are at their highest, and this means an easier transition to thepermanently elevated estrogen levels that birth control pills create.
You dont have to start birth control with the start of your period, but the consensus is that it is best to do so.
How To Take Every Day Pills
- Take the 1st pill from the section of the packet marked âstartâ. This will be an active pill.
- Continue to take a pill every day, in the correct order and preferably at the same time each day, until the pack is finished .
- During the 7 days of taking the inactive pills, you will get a bleed.
- Start your next pack of pills after you have finished the 1st pack, whether you are still bleeding or not.
When Should You Start The Pill Determining The Best Time
Birth control has become a necessary stage in every womans life. Among all the birth control means, the pill has emerged on top due to its convenience and efficiency. Birth control is all about planning your family and personal life. This planning should start from the minute you decide to take that first birth control pill since it is likely to affect your menstrual cycle. So when should you start the pill? First, lets explore our options.
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How And When To Start The Pill
No hard-and-fast rule exists as to when to start the pill. The recommendations on when to start also depend upon what type of pill a woman is taking. There are two main types of birth control pill:
- The combination pill, which contains synthetic versions of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. These hormones prevent ovulation from occurring as well as reducing the likelihood of fertilization and implantation.
- The minipill, which contains a synthetic version of progesterone only. It is also known as the progestin-only pill. The minipill primarily prevents pregnancy by causing the cervical mucus to thicken and the womb lining to thin. This reduces the chances of fertilization and implantation of an egg.
When Should You Start A New Birth Control Pack
During the final week of a 28-day birth control pill pack, which typically contains a row of sugar pills, a woman will get her period. This period will end once a new active pill is taken. Furthermore, you should start your next pack as soon as you finish your current pack. If you miss a day, you may experience a bleed. You can also skip the row of placebo pills and switch to a new pack in order to avoid bleeding. Check out our #PeriodsOptional page to learn how to safely skip your period by using birth control.
Disclaimer: The above information is for general informational purposes only and is NOT a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor/primary care provider before starting or changing treatment.
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First Is It Safe To Skip Your Period
The short answer is, yes, you can safely skip your period by either ditching the placebo week and going directly to a new pack of pills, ring, or patch. Some people may naturally just stop getting their period over time while using certain forms of birth control.
The long answer, however, is a bit more involved. First, the period you get on hormonal birth control is not even really your period, its actually withdrawal bleeding, according to the Mayo Clinic. During a menstrual cycle without hormonal birth control, your endometrial lining thickens in anticipation of an embryo implanting. If pregnancy does not occur, your body sheds this lining, and you get your period. Since hormonal birth control works by suppressing ovulation , theres nothing extra to shed if you dont become pregnant. The bleeding is simply your bodys response to stopping the hormones.
Protection May Not Be Immediate
Depending on where you are in your cycle when you begin and the type of pill youre taking, you may need to use a backup method of birth control when you start the pill. There are two types of birth control pillsthe combination pill, which contains estrogen and progestin, and the progestin-only or mini-pill.
For the combination pill, protection is immediate only if you start within five days of your period. If you begin mid-cycle, youll need to use backup for 7-14 days . If youre starting on a progestin-only pill, you will be protected after 48 hours no matter where in your cycle you begin.
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Does Menstrual Suppression Cause Infertility
The short and complete answer is: No.
Assuming birth control and period suppression can cause infertility over time is a common misconception, Prager says.
With almost all contraception theres a relatively immediate return to fertility once someone stops using the contraception. It depends on someones baseline fertility level, she explains.
That means that if you struggled with infertility prior to taking birth control, youll still have the same amount of difficulty after you stop taking it. If you havent struggled with infertility, birth control and stopping your period wont change that.
Some birth control methods, such as the Depo-Provera shot, may cause a delay in returning to fertility that people may need to factor into their baby planning.
That doesnt mean it is decreasing future fertility, it just takes a longer time for it to leave the system. With Depo-Provera, I recommend someone stop six months before they want to try to conceive, Prager says.
What Birth Control Works Best To Suppress My Period
While many types of hormonal birth control could theoretically be used for menstrual suppression, some are more common or reliable than others. Birth control pills and IUDs are some of the most common methods, whereas IUDs and birth control shots are some of the most reliable.
There are several types of birth control pills: combination pills, which include both estrogen and progestin, and progestin-only pills. Among combination pills there are also monophasic and multiphasic. Monophasic means the amount of hormones in each pill is the same, whereas with multiphasic pills, the dose changes throughout the month.
Combination, monophasic pills are the easiest and most effective to use to stop your period. Most pill packets contain three weeks of active pills that have hormones and one week of inactive pills that dont contain hormones. This is designed to mimic someones natural menstrual cycle. If you want to stop your period, you simply dont take the inactive pills and instead go straight to the next set of pills that contain hormones.
Some brands, such as Amethyst, are designed to let you skip your period for a year or more. Others, such as Seasonique, are designed to give you a period only every three months.
Additionally, the contraceptive vaginal ring and transdermal contraceptive patches can both be used to reduce or eliminate periods with about the same effectiveness as pills.
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Will Starting Birth Control On The First Day Of My Period Stop It
You should have your period during your fourth week on the pill. When you start a fresh pack of tablets, your menstrual period will end. However, this does not mean that you cannot get pregnant while on the pill it is only because there are no new hormones in your system yet that prevents ovulation from happening again so quickly after your last period.
If you want to avoid getting pregnant but still need to take care of other health issues, such as diabetes or heart disease, we recommend that you see your doctor who may be able to prescribe you another form of contraception. Even though your period is off schedule, this does not necessarily mean that you are unable to get pregnant.
Do I Get A Real Period On The Contraceptive Pill
Nope. The bleeding you get when youâre on the pill is not the same as a menstrual period.
Your period on the pill is technically called withdrawal bleeding, referring to the withdrawal of hormones in your pill, and in your body. The drop in hormone levels causes the lining of your uterus to shed . This bleeding may be slightly different than the period you had before taking the pill. It also may change over time while taking the pill.
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Will It Be Harder To Get Pregnant After Taking Birth Control Pills
Besides When does your period start on the pill, this is another common asked question concerning taking the pill. The answer is no. Birth control pills do not affect your fertility. But if your periods and cycles were irregular before you started taking the pill, they will probably revert back to the same irregularity. If youre concerned about your ability to get pregnant, your doctor can run fertility tests beforehand.
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Period A Week Early: Is There Anything To Worry About
If your period comes early once in a while, it is likely normal and not a cause for concern.
Menstruation might start early because of a change in your lifestyle, intense physical exercise, illness, or stress. However, sometimes it happens with no reason, and this is still not necessarily abnormal. So, if you get your period a week early, try not to worry. If your period is consistently irregular, you can let your health care provider know to rule out any problems.
Many people have irregular periods occasionally others have them throughout their lives.
Some possible causes of getting your period early:
- Hormonal imbalance
- Sudden weight gain or loss
Your birth control method can also affect your cycle. An emergency contraceptive pill can cause an early period. If you skip a few combined oral contraceptive pills, your hormone levels may drop, and bleeding may start before its due. If you have recently had an intrauterine device inserted, your body may react to it by bleeding.
To avoid unpleasant surprises with your period coming early, it might be a good idea to have period products on hand, even if youre not expecting your period. If youre getting your period early for a prolonged period of time, make sure to ask your health care provider about it.
- Analysis of period and cycle length
- Chances of getting pregnant and ovulation forecast
- Predictions of next period
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When Should I Start The Birth Control Pill
There are a few different methods to 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 prescribed. Use another method of birth control 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. When you start birth control within the first 5 days of your period, you are protected against pregnancy as soon as you start taking your pills.ALSO READ How to Get Birth Control Pills in Canada? Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia and others ANSWERED
The Sunday Start Method
Starting your birth control 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. As with the quick start method, be sure to use another method of birth control for the first seven days after starting your pills if you plan on having sexual intercourse.
Is Skipping Your Period Safe
Medical studies have reported no significant negative health effects when you skip your period on the combined hormonal birth control pill . That being said, itâs still important to mention that there have been no long-term studies examining the safety of continually skipping your period. Sometimes medical repercussions take a longer time and/or need a larger population sample size to emerge.
If you choose to stop taking hormonal birth control, your natural menstrual cycle and fertility will usually return to normal after one month, regardless of how long you skipped your âperiodâ .
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Is It Better To Start Birth Control Mid Cycle
You do not have to wait for your period to start taking the birth control pill. Birth control pills can be taken as soon as you get them, any day of the week, and anytime during your menstrual cycle. When youll be protected from pregnancy depends on when you start taking the pill, and the kind of birth control pill youre using. A back up birth control method is suggested during the first 7 days of being on the pill.
What About Starting Birth Control At The Beginning Of My Cycle
Yes, you can start taking birth control pills any day of the week. However, starting a new birth control pill pack is most effective when the first pill is taken within the first 5 days of your menstrual period. This provides immediate protection against pregnancy from your first pill.
Although most birth control pill packs start on a Sunday, you can, in fact, start taking birth control on any day during the week. It is recommended that birth control is started within 5 days of the menstrual period, because it kicks in pregnancy protection right away. If you prefer to be extra careful, using an alternative method of contraception anyway may help put your mind at ease.
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Birth Control Pill Protocol
Birth control pills and vaginal ring use can help improve menstrual cramps, reduce menstrual flow, help PMS, improve acne, regulate your periods, reduce your risk for ovarian and uterine cancer, relieve perimenopausal symptoms and prevent pregnancy.
Periods on birth control are not true periods, but called withdrawal bleeding. That is because the birth control pill or ring is withdrawn for a period to occur. Many women are now using birth control continuous to relieve menstrual problems and for convenience. It is safe not to have a period as long as you are on birth control.
Combination Birth Control Pills
If a combination birth control pill is started for the first time on the Sunday after your period begins, your period should occur about 25 days later. Ask your healthcare provider which day is the best to start your specific pill pack. If your period begins on a Sunday, you can start the pill pack on that Sunday.
- In general, about 3 days after finishing all of the 21 active tablets in a 28 pill pack, most women will start their period.
- If you use a 28-pill pack, you’ll get your period during the week you take the reminder pills.
- If you use a 21-day pill pack, you’ll still get your period the week you do not take any pills. Remember that the 21-day pack has no reminder pills. Use a reminder to help you stay on track.
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Start By Giving It A Little Time
When youve been on the pill for years and years, your body understandably needs time to adjust to a new normal. So if you dont get your period back immediately after quitting hormonal birth control, try not to worry. But if pregnancy isnt your goal, make sure youre still taking steps to prevent it.
If your period does not return immediately, you have no way of knowing when you are ovulating, explains Dr. Stephanie McClellan, chief medical officer and director of well being at the Tia Clinic. Some women actually get pregnant after stopping the pill without experiencing a menstrual period because of unrecognized ovulation and inadequate or no contraception. Make sure to take a pregnancy test if you have any symptoms or think you might be pregnant.
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Who Can Take Them
As long as your doctor is sure that youâre not already pregnant, you usually can get on the pill at any time, at any age. If youâre nearing menopause, ask your doctor if it might be better to take a âminipill,â which has one hormone instead of the usual two, and in lesser amounts.
The pill may not be right for you if you:
Learn more about the pill and other birth control choices that are right for you.
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