BC Question

They say that you should wait for one full month of being on the pill to have unprotected sex. I don't think a few minutes to an hour is going to affect you. I think they want you to take it at the same time every day, but a few minutes isn't going to mess it up. :-)

I used to set a timer too and that worked very well just as a reminder. Overall my MD has said as long as you are with a few hour range you're fine, they don't want you taking it at 6am one day then 6pm the next day, that's too far apart. But 6am one day and 9am another day is ok. They just want you to have a steady level in your system, but it's not like blood pressure medication that needs to be more exact with timing. My MD told me that it would take month to be effective, so after your first period once you are on it. Remember that if you are ever on antibiotics for any reason it makes the pill ineffective so you need additional protection for a month again. Hope this helps!

An hour later than usual is ok (at least it was for me). A missed day means a condom until you start your new pack of pills.

My gyno always said I had to be on the pill for a full month's worth of pills, go through my period and at the beginning of the second round of pills, THEN unprotected sex was safe.

A good point was made about antibiotics. Whenever you take new prescription medicine ALWAYS ask "how will this affect my birth control pills?" If you have any doubts, use a back up form of birth control. Better safe than face an unwanted pregnancy.

Hope this helps!

Hope this helps!

I always followed the drug packaging for waiting times, which are always sooner than my doctor gives me--her times are the "play it VERY very safe," whereas the medication is based on research/correct use, etc. And I hate using condoms. :)

For combination pills, the packaging should also define "late." I'm on the mini-pill while nursing and have to take that within the same hour every day, so I do need the timer. Off by an hour with a combination pill should not affect anything, but find the writing to make yourself feel better.

I was a teacher when I was on BC pills. So 7am didn't work for me on the weekends when I slept in, but 9am didn't work during the week when I was at work. So I opted for 9pm to take my pill. Worked great. If you are off by an hour that should be no problem. I think 5+ hours difference might cause problems. Can't remember how long I waited for unprotected sex. That was too long ago. Probably like another poster said - give it a month of the pill, then your period, then start the pill again (second month) and then you should be good to go.

Wow, you're taking it within a few minutes of the same time each day - I am super impressed! I think it depends on the type. After my son, I was on a low hormone pill for awhile and with that one you had to be pretty accurate about taking it same time each day, but even then I think an hour difference is just fine. I couldn't wait to switch to regular BC when I was done breastfeeding because taking it exact same time each day was near impossible for me. There were many many days I took them completely at different times - like once early morning, next day at night, etc. I think it's fine, depending on what one you use. If you read the directions for the pill, it should say something about this. Mine had said something like you didn't need to use a backup BC method unless you had missed 2 days worth or something.

The lower the dose of the pill, the more important it is to take it at the same time, I think, but I'm not a pharmacist.

I've been on the pill for a total of 25+ years and they've always been effective, and I don't take them within an hour each day, just always at the same general time (morning or evening) each day. I can't take low dose pills, though, as I have too many side effects, like breakthrough bleeding, with them.

When I first started the pill at age 20, the doctor told me they were effective "immediately". Now doctors do tell you to wait at least one month for them to be effective.

And most antibiotics do NOT make the BC pill ineffective. That's been disproven by many recent studies.

I think you need to wait for a month, but I would call the pharmacist if you want to know for sure. When I taught health a few years ago, the Planned Parenthood Rep said that.

Is there a reason that you need to be on a pill instead of say the Nuvaring? I love it because as long as you put it in one the right DAY then you're good to go. Oh, and I would check with the doc or pharmacist when taking antibiotics, I know they say they don't affect the pill or the ring, but I have a wonderful little boy who is 4 months old from antibiotics last summer. Good thing I was already thinking about having a second one. Good luck!!