Birth control

**optimusprimev20** · 06-02-2010 04:11 PM

My girlfriend took birth control today (her period ended 3 days ago). However, afterwords she noticed the packaging says to take it either:

First day of her period -OR-
The first Sunday after your period begins.

This is what is concerning me: Hypothetically say a girls period begins on Monday and ends Thursday or Friday - Then per directions she would take the birth control pill on Sunday (which is 3 or 2 days AFTER the period has ended)

The aforementioned situation is no different than my girlfriends period ending 3 days ago and her taking the birth control pill now (a weds). Or am i completely missing something? Please offer any intelligent insight - Should she just continue as normal? ect.

(Btw it is the 21 day birth control one) Idk if that helps

**LanaBear** · 06-02-2010 04:26 PM

Is this her first time on BC?

If depends on if she is a Sunday starter or a period starter. How has she taken previous packs? With the 21 day packs, the hormones are built up in the system to compensate for that week off the pill to allow the start of your period.

So, if she was a Sunday starter, even if she did, hypothetically, start her period on Monday and end Thursday, she would still wait until the following Sunday to start the pill.

When did she start her period?

**optimusprimev20** · 06-02-2010 04:45 PM

this is her very first time taking birth control - her period ended Sunday and today is Wednesday where she took her very first pill.

**LanaBear** · 06-02-2010 04:53 PM

Out of curiosity, what made her take it today?

If she is looking at being a Sunday starter, she should have taken it last Sunday. Have you had unprotected sex since her period stopped? If not, I would do one of three things, have her continue taking the pill as is, she'll be a period starter. Or stop taking the pill and start again on Sunday, to make her a Sunday starter. Or stop taking the pill until her next period and restart correctly. It's pretty much up to her. I prefer the Sunday starts, for me, it was easier to keep track.

She may be better off calling her Dr's office and talking to a nurse, to get their professional opinion about what she should do.

Whichever route you take, make sure to have sex with some other form of protection for the recommended time in the pamphlet. Some say two weeks, some say a month, I'm a believer in the full month (better safe than sorry), but others may not agree.

**optimusprimev20** · 06-02-2010 04:59 PM

She wasn't looking to be a Sunday started or a period starter...She rushed read the packet and started today by accident - even though her period ended 3 days ago. Also, her Dr. didn't even tell her when to start, she just gave her the pills and the packet and let her go her merry way. But i guess my main concern is if she can safely continue as is or not. To me "Sunday" is just a arbitrary day, heck TODAY could be "Sunday".

If a girls period ends on Thursday and she took the pill for the first time on Sunday the bottom line is: she took the pill 3 days after her period ended.

My gfs situation: Today isnt "Sunday" but the bottom line is she still took it 3 days after her period ended

In both of these cases the bottom line is the same (Took pill 3 days after period ended) So whats the big deal or difference?

**LanaBear** · 06-02-2010 05:12 PM

Good question... I have no clue. Sunday is completely arbitrary, IMO, probably simply for tracking purposes. It's easier to track by the first day of your period or simply by a day, Sunday being the beginning of the week. Today could very well be her Sunday...

She should be able to safely continue, it isn't going to do anything today that it wouldn't have done last Sunday or this Sunday. This is her first pack, so this will set her "schedule" as to how the other packs are taken, Sunday or not.

Protected sex during the recommended period and there you go.

**optimusprimev20** · 06-02-2010 05:34 PM

Thank you for your help and support - I realized i posted this under the wrong section and apologize i didn't look harder for the correct area - thanks again

**LanaBear** · 06-02-2010 05:47 PM

No worries. If you didn't post it under birth control, I didn't notice, so someone else must have moved it.

**kira** · 06-02-2010 05:54 PM

Technically it doesn't matter what day you start birth control pills. At least not after the first month. Starting them right after your period makes it more likely you are fully covered the first month. Starting them on sunday makes it more likely you'll remember to start each pack at the beginning of the next week. You can start them any day you want though. Just keep in mind that they are not as effective the first month and may not be at all effective if started at a random point in the cycle. A backup method of birth control should be used for at least the first week and preferably the first month before relying on birth control pills alone.