Started the pill mid-cycle, would it be safe ?

**PsyCLown** · 08-01-2010 07:47 AM

Hi all,

my girlfriend started taking the pill for the first time 2 and a half weeks ago (taken it 17 times so far).
She is on Yaz, which is a combination pill and there is one thing we have been wondering about.

The doctor we went to to get the perscription said that after 2 weeks of being on the pill it would be safe to have intercourse without any other form of protection (safe as in won't get pregnant).

So my girlfriend then asked me whether it would make a difference when she started the pill, as she started just before mid way in her cycle and then I thought in the booklet that it said it would be safe to have intercourse from the first pill if you started taking it on day 1 of your period.
If you started on any other day you would have to wait 7 days for the contraceptive to be effective.

Although I went to re-read it and from what I can understand it says you are allowed to start on days 2-5 of your period but then you need to wait a week for the contraceptive to be effective.

So I am assuming the doctor said 2 weeks to be safe although the thing is that she did not start on her period. She started almost 2 weeks after she had her period and I cannot find any information in the booklet about starting mid-cycle or anything of that sort. Just that if you do that you will change when your period is and may have some side effects such as spotting. She has not had any side effects though and I am not sure whether it is safe since she did not start taking the pill during her period.

I have been to two different pharmacies to try and get an answer to my question and both gave me completely different answers of which both are very different to what I understand and the doctor said.

One said it is safe to have intercourse after 2 days of taking the pill no matter what.
The other said you have to wait 3 months for it to be safe.

SO now I have come to you guys to get some advice and clear up whether it is safe or not and if not when would it be safe?

She takes her pill 9.30 PM every night and has yet to take it before 9PM or after 10PM (so never been more than 30 minutes off the original time).

We would have gone to the doctor who perscribed the contraceptive but would need to pay just to see the doctor and don't quite want to do that just to find out.

If you could help us out I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks

**PsyCLown** · 08-01-2010 08:17 AM

My girlfriend has just started her period today as well.

**LanaBear** · 08-01-2010 01:50 PM

I would wait a month, although in most cases 2 weeks is fine. Better safe than sorry. 3 months is totally unnecessary.

**PsyCLown** · 08-01-2010 11:58 PM

Alright, thanks. So it should be fine even though she started just before mid-cycle?

We are thinking of getting a new box and starting it now since she is on her period to try and synch the routine in with her cycle. What do you all think about that?

Thanks

**LanaBear** · 08-02-2010 10:09 AM

I wouldn't worry about getting a new box. Just continue with what you've got, her cycles will adjust to her pill regardless.

**PsyCLown** · 08-02-2010 01:49 PM

Awesome. Thank you!
Really appreciate the help.

**LanaBear** · 08-02-2010 01:58 PM

You're welcome.

Kudos to you for being caring enough to seek out the answers for her.

**PsyCLown** · 08-03-2010 08:32 AM

Lana, I have one more question. Something I just thought about.

What should we do when we reach the placebo's as she will be around a week into her cycle (a week after she has had her period).
I do not think it would be safe to take the placebo's as it would have the same effect as skipping 4 pills (there are only 4 placebo's in Yaz). So should we move onto a new box and skip the placebo's - in which case what happens next month as I do not think her period would suddenly move to when she would take the placebo's?

If we should take the placebo's would it still be safe?

Thanks

**LanaBear** · 08-03-2010 11:56 AM

If it was me, I'd continue with the pack, including taking the placebo's. She may have some spotting but I would doubt that she would have another period (she may though), but she may have some spotting regardless if she skips them as well.

She'll be fine, the pill will have been in her system for approximately a month at that point.

If she does decide to skip the placebo's and continue to the next pack immediately, her period will probably be a bit delayed and would more than likely move to her placebo days (she may have some spotting around the time that she would have her period normally). At this point, her period will revolve around the hormones put into her body (and taken out on the placebo days).

**PsyCLown** · 08-03-2010 01:49 PM

So either way it would be safe to have intercourse regardless of whether she takes the placebo's or not. Her period would also sync into the pills cycle, it would end up being when she takes her placebo's. So that will happen regardless.

So you are very sure it would be safe to take the placebo's and have intercourse? Rather take them this month than skip them and start the new pack immediatly and take the placebo's in the next pack? Would it perhaps not be a bit safer to skip these placebo's or would it really not make much of a difference and possibly be better for her to take the placebo's in this pack?

Thanks