Gina asked
When should I start to take my birth control pills? I am new to taking this.
Answer
When starting on birth control pills, there are two methods you can use to begin taking them. You can choose to be a "First Day Starter" or a "Sunday Starter" and there are benefits to both ways.
Sunday Starter
To use this method, begin taking your birth control pills on the Sunday after your last menses (i.e. 'period'). For example, if your period begins on Wednesday, start taking your birth control pills that Sunday. There are two positives of being a "Sunday Starter":
Positives
- Ease of schedule: Starting your birth control pills on a Sunday can be easier to remember as you continue on month to month.
- Period Free Weekend: While not always the case, most women begin to have their period 2 to 4 days after taking their last birth control pill in the pack. Being a Sunday starter increases the likelihood that you will not be on your period during the weekend. This can certainly vary person to person however.
Negatives
- Back Up Contraception: When starting birth control pills for the first time, you need to use backup contraception for 7 days if you choose to be a "Sunday Starter" to prevent unplanned pregnancy. This period of backup contraception is necessary for the hormones in the birth control pills to reach effective concentrations in the body.
Day One Starter
To use this method, begin taking your birth control pills on the first day of your menses (i.e. 'period'). For example, if your period begins on Wednesday, start taking your birth control pills that day.
Positives
- Back Up Contraception: There is no need to use backup contraception if you are a day one starter.
Negatives
- Period Free Weekend: You may get your period during the weekend when using this method, but as mentioned above, it varies by person.
You can feel comfortable using either method to start taking your birth control pills. One way typically isn't recommended over the other, just use whichever method works best for you.
If you choose to be a 'Day One Starter", most birth control packs come with removable stickers that list the days of the week. You can simply place the appropriate weekly sticker on your birth control pills to easily remind you of your weekly schedule.
