What Are The Sugar Pills In Birth Control For

Are There Any Other Precautions Or Warnings For This Medication

Before you begin using a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and any other significant facts about your health. These factors may affect how you should use this medication.

Blood clots: As with any hormonal contraceptives, there is a risk of developing blood clots. Tell your doctor if you have a history of blood clots or are at risk of developing blood clots. Let your doctor know if you are planning an upcoming surgery or if you will be immobilized or inactive for a prolonged period of time , as there is an increased risk of blood clot formation when using oral contraceptives.

If you experience crushing chest pain or heaviness, pain in the calf, sudden shortness of breath, vision changes or speech changes, sudden severe headache, weakness or numbness in an arm or leg, or are coughing blood, get immediate medical attention as these symptoms could indicate a possible blood clot.

Blood pressure: If you have high blood pressure, discuss with your doctor how this medication may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

If you have a history of depression or other emotional problems you may be more likely to have a recurrence while taking oral birth control medications.

Progestin Birth Control Pills

Progestin pills only contain one hormone and do not have any estrogen. They come in 28-day packs only and each pill contains hormones. This means all of the pills in these 28-day packs are active. In order to avoid pregnancy, you must take every pill in the pack, at the same time every day . You may get your period on the 4th week, you may notice spotting throughout the month, or you may not have your period at all. It depends on your specific body.

Speak with your doctor if you are concerned with irregular periods while taking birth control pills.

If You Have Missed 2 Or More Pills In A Row

It has been more than 48 hours since you should have taken a pill.

Then you should:

• Take most recent missed pill as soon as possible.
• Throw away any other missed pills.

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How To Start Your First Pack Of Pills

There are several ways you can start taking your first pack of pills. Talk with your doctor about when to start taking your pills:

• Quick start. During your medical appointment, take your first pill as soon as you get the pack from your doctor. Take the second pill the next day. During the first 7 days of pills, use a backup method of birth control, like a condom or diaphragm.
• Sunday start. Pick a Sunday to take your first pill, so that you do not have periods on the weekends. During the first 7 days of pills, use a backup method of birth control, like a condom or diaphragm.
• Fifth-day start. On the fifth day of your menstrual period, take your first pill.

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How To Start The Pill

• If you decide, along with your clinician, that the pill is right for you, they will write you a prescription. You can purchase your pills at a pharmacy or at PPTs Health Services .
• If you start the pill within the first 5 days of getting your period, you are protected from pregnancy right away.
• If you start the pill 6 or more days after getting your period, you are not protected from pregnancy until you have been using the pill for a full week. To avoid pregnancy during this time, use a back-up method of birth control like condoms or spermicides.
• A clinician may recommend that you use a back-up method of birth control for a longer period of time when you start the pill.
• Some people like to start the pill on the first Sunday following the start of their period, whether they are still bleeding or not. This will likely keep you from getting future periods on the weekend.

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What Is The Purpose Of Placebo Pills

The system of having three weeks of active pills and then one week of placebo pills wasnt actually created with any scientific or medical purpose. One of the inventors who created the first birth control pills, believed they would be more acceptable to the Catholic Church if women continued having their period each month, so they created placebos in an effort to market the pill as natural. Their decision started a precedent that became difficult to overcome and started a series of public debates about female reproductive decision making. Today, doctors recommend that you take them as placeholders, so you continue the habit of taking your pill every single daybut, it is definitely not necessary.

Broadly has a great article which offers an in-depth look on the controversial political history of the pill.

Do I Have To Take Placebo Pills

You dont have to take the placebo pills in your birth control pack, but you must begin your active pills again within a week. You can start your active pills early to adjust the date of your period or start your placebo pills on a different week if you want to change the timing of your period. Speak to your local health care provider about the best way to do this, as your level of protection will vary with the type of pill youre using. You may need to use a method of backup birth control as youre adjusting your cycle.

Understanding how placebo pills work will help you use birth control properly and protect yourself effectively from pregnancy. Though you are safe from pregnancy during the placebo pill, we recommend the use of condoms for STI prevention and additional contraceptive benefits.

For more answers to your healthcare questions, visit our Knowledge Center.

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So Whats The Difference Between A Placebo Period And A Regular Period

Its important to understand that bleeding while on the pill is actually different than bleeding while not taking birth control.

The period you get while on the placebos is from a decrease in the hormones in your pills and is called a withdrawal bleed. If you have ever forgotten to take your pill for ~2 days and started spotting, its the same phenomenon. This type of bleeding is usually much lighter than a period. If youre on a pill that has less than 7 placebo pills, you might only experience spotting or no bleeding at all.

Further, birth control pills stop your body from ovulating, or preparing and releasing eggs meaning that the typical layers of lining your body prepares in case of fertilization arent created. The shedding of this lining is what happens during a normal period.

Did I Get Pregnant On The Pill

In the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention s view, the pill has a 99 percent effectiveness rate. The effectiveness of this product is 7 percent. In other words, less than one out of 100 women who take the pill will become pregnant in a year. The pill has a 91 percent effectiveness when used on a typical basis.

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More Questions And Answers About Birth Control Pills

What is continuous use with combination birth control pills?

With continuous birth control pill use, you take an active pill every day and never have a period. You might have breakthrough bleeding, especially at first. You may want fewer periods or none at all, especially if you have problem periods. But you may wonder how youâll know if you get pregnant by accident.

If you think you could be, take a pregnancy test. They work even if you’re taking the pill. If the test is positive, stop taking your pills and call your doctor.

Do I have to get permission from my parents to go on the pill if Iâm younger than 18?

It depends where you live. In some states, you can get a prescription without permission. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about the laws in your area. A sexual education counselor might be able to give you some ideas about how to bring up the subject with your parents. Even if you decide against that, they can talk to you privately if youâre confused, unsure, or just curious about sexual activity.

How old do I have to be to take the pill?

Thereâs no minimum age once you start to get your period, but some doctors suggest waiting until around 16 to give your body a chance to properly establish its cycle. Itâs a good idea to talk to your doctor, parents, or a counselor to make sure youâre physically and mentally ready, both for the pill and for sex.

Will it make my cycle more regular?

Will the pill make me gain weight?

Will the pill make my breasts larger?

Why Am I Not Getting My Period On The Placebo Week

The synthetic hormones in the pill prevent pregnancy by thinning out the lining of the uterus, stopping ovulation and preventing fertilization. The lining of the uterus is what sheds during menstruation. Birth control is pretty powerful, so sometimes it can thin out your endometrium so much that theres nothing to shed during your period. This is why its common for many women to not get their period on birth control, even during their placebo pill week.

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What Do The Sugar Pills In Birth Control Do

The sugar pills basically don’t have any hormones such asprogestin and ethinyl estradiol which allows you to have yourperiod. The sugar pills are normally taken on the 4th week of yourBirth Control cycle. You don’t need to take the sugar pills asguided because either way you will have a period with or withouttalking the sugar pills on the 4th week. The sugar pills also keepsyou on a schedule when on a birth control pill since many do nottake them responsibly which may result in an unplannedpregnancy.

You can also skip the sugar pills and go right into your nextpack of active pills and just have no periods. Read MalcolmGladwell’s “John Rock’s Error” and that is what seasonale andlybrel are

What Happens If I Miss A Dose

Follow the patient instructions provided with your medicine. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you do not understand these instructions. Missing a pill increases your risk of becoming pregnant.

If you miss one active pill, take two pills on the day that you remember. Then take one pill per day for the rest of the pack.

If you miss two active pills in a row in Week 1 or 2, take two pills per day for two days in a row. Then take one pill per day for the rest of the pack. Use back-up birth control for at least 7 days following the missed pills.

If you miss two active pills in a row in Week 3, throw out the rest of the pack and start a new pack the same day if you are a Day 1 starter. If you are a Sunday starter, keep taking a pill every day until Sunday. On Sunday, throw out the rest of the pack and start a new pack that day.

If you miss three active pills in a row in Week 1, 2, or 3, throw out the rest of the pack and start a new pack on the same day if you are a Day 1 starter. If you are a Sunday starter, keep taking a pill every day until Sunday. On Sunday, throw out the rest of the pack and start a new pack that day.

If you miss two or more pills, you may not have a period during the month. If you miss a period for two months in a row, call your doctor because you might be pregnant.

If you miss a reminder pill, throw it away and keep taking one reminder pill per day until the pack is empty. You do not need back-up birth control if you miss a reminder pill.

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British Columbia Specific Information

Birth control can help prevent pregnancy. There are many types of birth control available. Speak with your health care provider to help decide which type is right for you and your partner.

Hormone-based birth control contains hormones such as estrogen and progestin. Certain medications may make your hormone-based birth control not work properly or not at all. For more information, see HealthLinkBC File #91a Hormonal Contraception and using other medications at the same time.

Emergency contraception helps to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex, or failed birth control. For more information about emergency contraception, see HealthLinkBC File #91b Emergency Contraception .

Birth control cannot prevent sexually transmitted infections , but using a condom will reduce your risk. For more information about birth control and sexual health, visit Options for Sexual Health and Smart Sex Resource. To learn more about STIs, see our HealthLinkBC Files Sexually Transmitted Infections Series.

You may also call 8-1-1 to speak with a registered nurse or pharmacist. Our nurses are available anytime of the day, every day of the year. Our pharmacists are available every night from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m.

How Are Birth Control Pills Packaged

You get a set of pills packaged in a thin case. Pill packs containing regular birth control pills have either 21 or 28 pills. Twenty-one-day pill packs contain 21 active pills. Twenty-eight-day pill packs contain 21 active pills and seven inactive pills. The pill packs are marked with the days of the week to remind you to take a pill every day. The seven inactive pills in the 28-day pill pack are added so youâre reminded to start a new pill pack after 28 days.

Some newer pills have only two inactive pills or even none. It’s important to always take all the pills to be sure youâre protected from getting pregnant.

A package of extended-cycle Seasonale contains 84 active pink tablets and seven inactive white pills. With Seasonique and LoSeasonique, the last seven pills contain estrogen only.

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Can You Skip The Placebo Pills

Some people elect to skip the placebo pills and restart the next pack right away, without a break in hormones. This may prevent a period from occurring.

Many people use this technique for convenience, for example, to keep them from getting their period while on vacation or in anticipation of a significant event.

It is safe for most people to do this occasionally, but it is best to speak with a doctor first.

A doctor can provide guidance regarding the safety of skipping the placebo pills, as well as how often a person should have their period.

Some varieties of birth control pill will not allow back-to-back dosing, as the dosing varies by week within the pack. Therefore, people should ensure that the pill they are taking is suitable to use on an extended cycle.

If a person is skipping the placebo pills due to a medical issue, such as endometriosis or polycystic ovary syndrome , a doctor can recommend birth control pills that provide continuous hormones.

Many women find that they skip a period or experience lighter bleeding while taking birth control pills, especially over time.

This may be due to a few vital functions of the pill, which works by:

• thickening cervical mucus to block sperm
• keeping the lining of the uterus thin to prevent implantation

When the uterine lining is thin, there will be less blood and tissue to shed during the hormone-free period.

While it can be alarming to miss a period while taking the pill, it is common and can be completely normal.

Can I Get Pregnant While On The Sugar Pills Of My Birth Control

A birth control pack has 4 weeks, on the 4th week you start your period, these pills are called sugar pills and reminder pills. I dont start my period until the 3rd day of this week, so therefor I could have sx the first 2 days of that week if I wanted to. I dont use condoms and havent gotten pregnant yet, if I have sx during this week without a condom will I get pregnant? What are the differences in the 3 weeks of pills and the 4th week of pills, sure you start your period, but can you get pregnant also?

• Answer #1

  Well the pink pills have hormones and so on that work at preventing ovulation and hence pregnancy. The green ones are idle. I think it is very unlikely that you will get pregnant during that last week if you do not use a backup method. . If you read the little paper that comes with every box of birthcontrol it clearly states that during the last week of the pills you do not need to use a backup method. Unfortunately I do not know how this would work scientifically but I think you should be ok. It is advised that you use back up such as a condom or foam if you miss one of the pink pills but it should be ok during the last week.

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