Why is there conflicting information about when you become protected?

**lillyrose** · 03-30-2011 05:54 PM

The clinic that gave me the pill as well as the pamphlet that came in the pill package both say that I will not need a backup birth control after I have taken the pill for 7 days (if I don't start on the first day of my period). If I start on the first day of my cycle then I won't need a backup at all, according to both of these sources, as well as some online sources.

But I have found several sites and many people on all sorts of forums telling me I need to take it for a full month before I am protected. Why does this discrepancy exist? Is the one month requirement simply outdated? This is very frustrating.

**ItsASecret** · 03-31-2011 07:38 AM

Because not all women react the same way. Some end up freaking out that they got pregnant in the first month because low and behold they never took the pill as directed. The simple fact is that the birth control pill in itself is 98-99.xx% effective if taken EXACTLY as directed. No missing pills, no taking pills late (there is a 3 hour window that you are allowed to 'forget' but do not make it a habit), do not skip pills except for the placebo if you do not want your period, do not double or triple up just because you are worried (only do this if you have missed a number of days and read the instructions on the box). It is very very effective if taken exactly as directed. The first week yeah stick with a condom as well, it is about comfort level if you are still not feeling so safe use the condoms in the second week as well. But as will all methods nothing is absolutely going to stop the chance of pregnancy, there are failures absolutely, but it all comes down to unpredictable failures. Unless of course the woman is skipping a lot or forgetting a lot of pills, then it is not so much of an unpredictable reason as to why she may have gotten pregnant.

**lillyrose** · 03-31-2011 08:35 AM

Thank you for your response.
I wondered if it might be because they assume some women and especially teens might have difficulty remembering to take it in the beginning. I'm very much a schedule person and I'm certainly not going to forget this of all things.

I had a mini freak-out yesterday because I started reading all of these "You have to take it for a full month" posts and sites. I've read 1 week, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and even up to 3 months! I really shouldn't even look at stuff online. I should just trust both my clinic and the pill package.

Thanks again.

**kira** · 03-31-2011 11:18 AM

The pill is effective immediately but not as effective as it is 1 and 3 months later. There is a slightly higher failure rate the first month but it's still more effective than condoms so most professionals ignore this slight difference.