how old do you have to be to be on the pill?
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What is the earliest age that birth control is prescribed? Age 16 is the most common age for teenagers to start taking the pill. At this age, most young women have established a cycle. It's true that some teenagers are ready to start the pill at a younger age, but it's crucial to discuss this with a doctor first.
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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the pill is 99.7 percent effective with perfect use. This means that less than 1 out of 100 women who take the pill would become pregnant in 1 year. However, with typical use, the effectiveness of the pill is 91 percent.
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If you start taking the pill within five days of the start of your period, pill protection begins immediately. If you start taking it at any other time during your menstrual cycle, pill protection begins one week later.
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If you start at any other time during your menstrual cycle, you'll be protected from pregnancy after 7 days of using the pill.
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Your body will need about one to three months to adjust to the pill. Use another form of birth control, such as latex condoms, during the first week. After the first week of taking pills regularly, you can use only the pill for birth control.
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Take 1 pill every day for 28 days (four weeks) in a row, and then start a new pack on day 29. The last pills in 28-day packs of combination pills do not have hormones in them.
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But depending on when you start and the kind of pill you're using, you may need to use a backup birth control method — like condoms — for up to 7 days. If you start combination pills within 5 days after the first day of your period, you'll be protected from pregnancy right away.
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You will not be protected from pregnancy straight away and will need additional contraception until you have taken the pill for seven days. If you start the pill after the fifth day of your cycle, make sure you have not put yourself at risk of pregnancy since your last period.
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So there's no need to wait for the first day of your period to start taking your birth control pills — you can start whenever you like! At the longest, you'll only have to wait 7 days for the pills to start working.
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How to get the emergency contraceptive pill. Women of any age can get the emergency contraceptive pill. You can get it at a low cost (or possibly free) from your doctor or the Family Planning Association. It is also available over the counter at some pharmacies.
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For the first 7 days of taking the Pill, a girl should use an additional form of contraception, such as condoms, to prevent pregnancy. After 7 days, the Pill should work alone to prevent pregnancy.
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Emergency contraception (EC), also known as the morning-after pill, is now available over-the-counter at drugstores to women over 17 without a prescription. Teens under 17 can still get EC the old-fashioned way — with a prescription.
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Emergency contraception is available at most pharmacies and health centers and does not require a prescription from a doctor, although it is often sold at the pharmacy counter rather than on the shelves. It can be purchased by anyone at any age and does not require parental notification or consent.
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If you're aged 13 or over, you can get contraception from the majority of community pharmacies in Scotland, usually free of charge. If you are not eligible for NHS Scotland services, you can buy the emergency contraceptive pill from most pharmacies.
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Combination Pills (COCs) For example, if you get your period Monday morning, you can start the pill anytime until Saturday morning and be protected from pregnancy that same day. If you start combination pills any other time, you need to take the pill for 7 days before you'll be protected from pregnancy.
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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.
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Take 1 pill every day for 28 days (four weeks) in a row, and then start a new pack on day 29. The last pills in 28-day packs of combination pills do not have hormones in them. These pills are called "reminder" or “placebo” pills — they help remind you to take your pill every day and start your next pack on time.