Can I start birth control 2-3 days after my period has ended? I don’t have refills on file and pharmacy has faxed it over to the doctor. I’m waiting.

Is this a continuation? Because you’ll lose protection and any sex during your break week won’t be protected. Once you get your pills you can just start again but it will take a full week before you’re protected, so on your 8th pill.

Yes it’s a continuation after 6 months as my bf is coming back to the country. I just got off my period 2 days ago. Will I be okay if I continue to take birth control starting tomorrow until August 15?

So you didn't take the pill for 6 months at all? If that's the case, you can start it whenever but need to wait until the pill protects you like said in above comment. But keep in mind it's not recommended to go on and off the pill within a short time period as it can increase the risk of developing blood clots. It's not really advised to just take it for a little while whenever you feel like it, and you may experience side effects due to your hormones being all over the place for months if not a year.

I have consulted with a doctor and it takes about 3 months for hormones to go back to normal. It’s been 6 months and I’m doing okay. The doctor will get back to me. I’ve done this before too for 1.5 years before going on it again. I haven’t experienced any clotting. I think within 7 days of taking it I should be protected. But the doctor will confirm. I appreciate the response :)

it actually can take 12-18 months for your hormones to go back to normal so you’re lucky!! and yes it will take 7 full days to be protected which is 8 pills :)

The doctor got back to me and told me that I have to take it for a month to be fully protected. I don’t think there’s point of taking it now and the receptionist said on behalf of the doctor that I have to use extra protection during that time.

a month? what pill is he wanting you to start?

Ya I’m confused too. I track my pills and first 7 days should be protected as I did the same the very first time I used it. I use Alysena 28. Has 3 weeks of pink pills and 1 week of placebo.

yes that’s 7 full days (8 pills) of pill taking until your protected

I will ask the pharmacy upon pick up. I’ll start the pack today and take it tonight even tho I missed yesterday.

You haven’t “missed” any as you never started. Your doctor did not tell you the truth, it’s a week (8 pills) until you’re protected. However it does sound like you’re just planning to use it for a month? And then get off it again? That’s not how birth control is meant to be used. It’s not a method for periodic use. You either stay on or stay off. Getting off and on will increase your chances at blood clots and you will spiral your body in getting used being off, then on and then off again. You’ll just confuse your body. So decide whether you want to be on it or just don’t, condoms are perfectly viable.

No I’m not planning on getting off of it. I will continue it. It was because my bf went out of country. I decided to give my body a break. His leave doesn’t happen often. I first started my birth control in April 2021. It hasn’t given me any issues. But ya, I will be continuing it because I get the 3 month supply each time I go for a refill.

for future reference, giving it a break doesn’t really do anything but confuse your body, you’re better off sticking to being on or off

Ah I see, for the future it isn’t recommended to come off unless it’s for at least 12 months.

Doctors will often recommend waiting a month for condomless sex because the most common time for people to quit taking the pill (oftentimes due to side effects like breakthrough bleeding and cramps, not being able to stay in the routine of taking it, etc) is in the first month. The rationale is that after a month of taking it and being in the routine you’re less likely to compromise your protection by missing pills (because you’re in the routine of taking it daily) and less likely to outright stop taking the pill. Check your pills pamphlet for details on when it protects you. Most combined pills are 7 full days (meaning protected beginning day 8), but there are a few that take longer (if I remember correctly, there’s one that takes 9 or 10 days, and then one that is packaged with placebos in week one so I takes 14 days).