Birth control start day question

**maggie90** · 05-05-2010 01:57 AM

Okay...
I started a birth control in August of last year that gave me 4 day periods. I skipped my period in October, which made it work out so that by after my next period I'd be starting my next new pack on a Wednesday instead of a Sunday. I switched birth control brands about 3 months ago and my doctor told me to just start the new pack as I would have done with my old brand so I did that, starting on a Wednesday. My mom is now flipping out on me, saying I NEED to be starting on a Sunday because that's how the packs are set up and that when I started my new brand, I should have waited the five days and started the new pack that Sunday. My idea is that my body doesn't know what day of the week it is and as long as I'm taking my pills consistently, they should be working just fine. I've always heard that changing a start day is fine and if I had done what she's saying I should have done it would have messed with my body and period.

I really just want to make sure my birth control is still effective despite the changing of the dates! I switched to a Wednesday start in October and just finished my third month of the new birth control and have been fine so far, but I just want to make sure it continues.

Thanks!

**LanaBear** · 05-05-2010 03:54 AM

In most packs, they have ways to take the pill with different start days. For example, if you are a Sunday starter (I always was), if you are a starter depending on your period, etc. Read the information leaflet in your pack, most will have what to do depending on when you start.

**stressed** · 05-10-2010 04:55 PM

I don't recommend skipping periods and changing start dates frequently, it confuses your body and may minimize its effect.

Whenever you are unsure about the pill's effect, no matter how little, always use a condom for at least one week (the ideal would be one month, but the instructions are usually detailed and advise you on almost every possibility). You can also give your gyn a call, s/he will have the answer almost immediately.

**Yazwoman** · 05-10-2010 07:59 PM

Originally Posted by stressed

I don't recommend skipping periods and changing start dates frequently, it confuses your body and may minimize its effect.

Whenever you are unsure about the pill's effect, no matter how little, always use a condom for at least one week (the ideal would be one month, but the instructions are usually detailed and advise you on almost every possibility). You can also give your gyn a call, s/he will have the answer almost immediately.

I agree to disagree with ya, Stressed. If there was really a problem with skipping withdrawal periods on the pill they wouldn't have come up with Librel or Seasonisque which gives you 1 period a year. There is no medical reason to have a period on the pill, as it is not a real bleed it does nothing really but make women think they are not pregnant. But you can still be pregnant and have a withdrawal bleed.(Though rare, it's not 100% proof that you are not preg) This is why women with endometriosis are great candidates for the pill as it helps eliminate the pill period.

The only problem that is seen in continuous dosing is sometimes a break through bleed. When that happens you just keep on taking them until you hit the placebo week and then let your body bleed since it wants to. Otherwise there is really no problem with not bleeding in my book while on the pill..

Of course what you do with your body is none of my business, if you'd like to have a period every month that's quite fine with me.

**eleni** · 05-12-2010 02:31 PM

they were designed like that because it was felt that women wouldnt take the pill if they didnt have a period.
because it would seem soooo unnatural.

anyway to answer your question - the doctor is right it wont make any difference and it'll work just fine.

x

**kira** · 05-13-2010 10:37 AM

Most brands if you skip your period you are still on the same day of the week when you start the new pack. It doesn't actually matter though. The pills and your body have no clue what day of the week it is. Whether it's sunday, saturday, or wednesday makes no difference how a pill works. We simply made up days of the week for our convenience of keeping track of time and it's easier for most people to remember starting a new pack when they start a new week. Time is arbitrary too. It doesn't matter if you take your pill at 3am, 3pm, etc... Certain times are just suggested because that's the most convenient for us.

I generally started each pack on Thursday or Friday because I took the pill at night and it would take about 4 days for my period to start so it would be Monday or Tuesday morning. Then it would stop about Friday and I'd avoid having it over either weekend. If I started a new pack on sunday it would mean my period wouldn't start until thursday placing the heaviest day right on saturday and ruining my weekend.

**samgreen** · 05-13-2010 11:39 AM

i start on a sunday to avoid having my period on the weekend. that way if im going out or going away im won't have to worry about having my period or willbe done by frday. when i get out a new package it comes with stickers that have start dates for every day of the week.so atleast for the brand im using it doesn;t matter what day i start on. although i still perfer to start on a sunday to avoid weekends.