Birth control question??!
Question: I have been on bc (ortho tri cyclen) for 6 months now. My period is regular now, perfect 28 day cycle. The thing is, I don't always start my period right away when I start the sugar pills. I usually take 3-4 sugar pills, then my period starts, and I start taking the first few new active pills before the bleeding is over.
My question is, am I protected in those few days when I am taking the sugar pills and not bleeding?
Answers: I have been on bc (ortho tri cyclen) for 6 months now. My period is regular now, perfect 28 day cycle. The thing is, I don't always start my period right away when I start the sugar pills. I usually take 3-4 sugar pills, then my period starts, and I start taking the first few new active pills before the bleeding is over.
My question is, am I protected in those few days when I am taking the sugar pills and not bleeding?
It takes me several days to start bleeding too (sugar pills start Thursday, bleeding starts Sunday), and yes, you are protected.
The reason (everywhere I've read) that you can have a row of placebo pills and still be protected from pregnancy is that by the time the sugar pills start, ovulation has already been prevented for the month. Since it naturally occurs about 14 days after your last period, and your body thought it was "pregnant" at that point because of the pills, you can't ovulate during that last week of non-active pills. One week isn't enough time for your body to "recover" (so to speak) it's natural cycle and mature, then release an egg to be fertilized.
So, as long as you don't miss any pills throughout the month, you ARE protected during the week of inactive pills, even if you don't start bleeding right away (actually I'm pretty sure that delay is normal--think about it, it probably takes a few days for the hormones to get out of your body, and for your body to realize it CAN bleed).
I would assume that you're not safe during this time since you aren't taking the real pills. Use a condom then just in case. Better safe than sorry, right? :-)
Yes, you are protected during the sugar pills because the amount of the hormones in the pills are still in your system.
If you have been taking your pills religiously on time, you're fine.
Remember the pill prevents ovulation and that is why it prevents pregnancy. You're safe.
You are, it just takes your body a couple of days to process that you are not taking the hormone pills and to release the lining.