“When should I start taking my birth control pills?”
I was prescribed Lo Estrin Fe for birth control and my doctor told me that I can start taking my pills at any time. But, I also read that I should start my pill pack when my period starts. What do you recommend?
2 Answers
Does not matter to a large degree. If you are going to take them for birth control, many of us recommend you start taking with the first day of your period (you must be absolutely sure it is your period, otherwise, wait an extra day or two), that way you should be protected immediately and that should keep irregular bleeding to a minimum. You can start at any time during the month, but then you will need backup protection for the first pack and you could be more prone to irregular bleeding. Either approach is okay.
Most patients will start a new start of birth control pills the Sunday that follows the start of their period. Or start on Sunday if they start on that day. First pack users may have some spotting or "breakthrough bleeding" their first pack. This is not uncommon and not a problem. Patients should keep right on taking their pills daily. We design Sunday starts so that most patients have a short and light period during the midweek of their 4th (blank or placebo) week and not be flowing on the weekends.
