[lillyrose]

I'm going to start taking the pill for the first time. I NEED to know when my period will come in advance, so my question is this:

There are 28 pills in the pack. My cycle has been 28 days exactly for years now. The instructions say that if you start pill 1 on the first day of your period, then you should end up getting your next period when you start taking the "inactive" pills. Doesn't that mean that my first cycle, while on the pill, will be shorter than usual and that every cycle thereafter should be moved up on my calender by one week?

I have scheduled a vacation based on my calendar! lol So, if anything I would like to push my period forward a few days. Since "quick start" (beginning the pills at any time in your cycle) is an option, should I just pick a week I'd like to get my period and count backward from there starting with the green pills, then start on that date?

Any advice?

[ItsASecret]

should I just pick a week I'd like to get my period and count backward from there starting with the green pills, then start on that date?

Pretty much. The inactive placebos are there to keep people remembering to take a pill everyday during the entire 28 day pack as well as allowing for a period to happen. So yes you could literally put an X on your calendar for when you want your period and have your placebo pills fall into that time. Keep in mind though if this is your first time taking it there is a thing called break through bleeding which can mean a random bleed at any point in your entire cycle simply because you body is getting used to the pill. It does not happen to all women but it is likely to happen at least once to any woman who is taking birth control.

[lillyrose]

Thank you ItsASecret.