how long after starting oral contraceptives before it is effective as only contraceptive used?
605733
If you start the pill at the beginning of your cycle (the first day of your period), you're protected immediately.  If you start at any other time, then it is possible that you could have ovulated before you started the pill.  Generally it is advised to use some other form of protection for a week after starting the pill at a time other than at the beginning of your cycle.  However, I would suggest using backup contraception until the beginning of your first menstrual period after starting the pill.  That way even if you did ovulate before you started taking the pill, you wouldn't get pregnant from it.  Anytime you are worried about how effective the pill might be, use a backup method such as a condom.  Also, until you are absolutely certain that you and your partner both do not have any STD's, use a condom--the pill doesn't protect you from STD's at all.
1112803
Absolutely not- That is just the day to make it standard for women.  You can start any day you like as long as you take your pill the same time everyday.  Remember you may have break through bleeding if you interrupt your cycle at an odd time, but it isn't harmful to your body.  The breakthrough bleeding may only be some spotting for the first month or so....... A lot of brands of pills actually come with stickers to change your start day....Just don't forget!!!! and remember 2 important things....don't use generic and if you take your pill at a different time each day it decreases its effectiveness!!!!!! Good luck..........
311524
I started taking the pill 5 years ago, it takes a little while to kick in a cycle. When I get to the sugar pills it takes a few days (3-4) before I start. In the begining of taking the pills my period would run all different days anywhere from 4 to 7 days at a time, now I can tell you what day it is to start and end.  It will take a while for it to become regular.
76146
The most fertile time for a woman is when she is ovulating, which occurs about 14 days after the start of her last period.  although this shouldn't be counted on for birth control, because cycles and women are all different
1047037
Take all of your pack, then stop taking the pill. It is not good for your system to stop the pill halfway through. Some people get pregnant soon as they stop the pill others it takes a while. It just depends on your system. But take all of your pack and after you take all of it, don't take anymore.
881888
I've heard that you should really use a alternative method of birth control until you start your next birth control cycle.  The effectiveness of the pills is a trickle-down cycle.  You get the most drugs out of the pill in the beginning and less and less as your cycle goes on.\nAntibiotics reduce the effectiveness of the pill and you won't build up your "protection" again until you start your next pill cycle.\nUse a condom just to be safe.
496932
If you don't take hormone suppliments it will reduce your sex drive dramatically, but today we are lucky, with pills you will not see a great difference.  I read once that the waiting time before sex is between four and six weeks.  But I would ask your OB-GYN to make sure.
444096
AFter the fourteenth day (normally).  Birth contral depends on your age, weight, smoking or not.  Condoms of course almost guarntee no STD's so should always be used, but if you're married and committed, the ring is great.  No need to remember to take every day.
631310
Well technically u cud start it anyday but the reason why they want u 2 start either da 1st day of ur period or the 1st sunday is because it takes at least 7 days 4 ur body 2 get used to the pill.  As u know u ovulate after ur period. It changes from woman 2 woman but it takes 7-14 days after da 1st day of ur period 4 u 2 ovulate. When u take it as the doctor prescribes, at ovulation, ur body wud fully accept the birth control and it will b at full effect and then it's safe for u 2 have sex and not b 2 stressed about getting pregnant.
1131714
Some women conceive if they miss *one* pill.  Others are infertile for a full year (or, occasionally, forever) after taking the Pill.  Your doctor should have explained all of this to you when she/he gave you *each* prescription.\n\nYou haven't had a period in 5 years.  It may just be taking your body a while to get back into the habit.  (Bleeding while on the Pill is *not* a period; it is withdrawal bleeding--looks the same from the outside, but it is very different from the perspective of your body.)\n\nIf you *did* have unprotected sex on 29 May, it is *definitely* too early to test.  It can take up to 5 days *after* sex to actually get pregnant (the sperm can live that long until ovulation), then another week until the fertilized egg makes it to the uterus to start implanting.  Until implantation, the egg isn't attached to your body in any way, and, therefore, *can't* cause any physical changes (including hormonal).  It then takes at least a couple of days for the hormone levels to rise enough.\n\nThe *earliest* a test could possibly test positive is 7 June, and maybe not for another week or two, depending on a number of other factors.  In fact, independent research determined that for most tests, they are only *very* reliable a week after your missed period.  (If you got pregnant on 29 May, your period wouldn't have been due until 12-16 June.)\n\nPlease read _Taking Charge of Your Fertility_ by Toni Weschler.  It will answer all your questions.
751769
I believe you're supposed to start taking the pill the first day your period starts and you should have been told this by whoever supplied them.  Make sure you use protection until your next period and on the first day, start on a new pack.\n\nhttp://www.angelic1healing.com
415120
Are you sure it stopped because of the pill or maybe you have gone into early menopause? If it stopped because of the pill, it will should come back when you stop the pill within a year.
818892
I am not an expert about the pill, so I researched this for you, after you read it, you will have a much better understanding...\n\n \n\nWhat are Birth Control Pills? \nThe Pill is the most popular type of birth control. There are many different brands of The Pill and they come in packs of 21 or 28 pills. One pill is taken every day. The first 21 pills have a combination of synthetic estrogen and progesterone hormones. The Pill stops ovulation, preventing the ovaries from releasing eggs. The Pill also thickens cervical mucus, making it harder for sperm to enter the uterus. The hormones in the Pill prevent fertilization. The last 7 pills of a 28-day pack have no hormones and are called spacer pills. The Pill is 92-99.7% effective as birth control. It does not protect against reproductive tract infections, including HIV/AIDS.\n\nUse \nWhen started within 6 days of the start of a period or within 6 days after an abortion, The Pill is effective immediately. If the Pill is started at other times, it will be effective after one month. To lower the risk of pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, condoms can be used while taking The Pill. \nStarting The Pill:\nThere are several ways to begin taking The Pill. One common way is to start on the first day of your period or the first day after an abortion. Some women prefer to start on the first Sunday after they begin their period or the first Sunday after an abortion. \nContinuing:\nTake one pill every day until you finish an entire pack. Try to link taking The Pill with a regular activity that you do at the same time every day, like eating a meal or brushing your teeth. If you have a 28-day pack, start a new pack immediately after you finish the old one. If you have a 21-day pack, take one pill every day for 21 days, no pills for 7 days, then start the new pack immediately. \nCautions \nSome women may not be able to take The Pill because of the risk of serious health problems. Women who are over 35 and smoke or who have any of the following conditions should not take The Pill: \n·History of heart attack or stroke\n·Blood clots\n·Unexplained vaginal bleeding\n·Known or suspected cancer\n·Known or suspected pregnancy\n·Liver disease \nWomen who are under 35 and smoke, have migraines, gallbladder disease, hypertension, diabetes, epilepsy, sickle cell disease, elective surgery, a history of blood clots, liver or heart disease may not be able to take The Pill. Your clinician or doctor can decide. \nWomen who use The Pill have a higher risk of heart attack and stroke. The effects of The Pill on breast cancer are still unknown. The Pill lowers a woman's chance of developing ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer, and pelvic inflammatory disease. \nAs the body adjusts to hormonal changes created by The Pill, women often experience some minor side effects, including:\n·Irregular bleeding or spotting\n·Nausea\n·Breast tenderness\n·Weight gain and/or water retention\n·Spotty darkening of the skin\n·Mood changes\nSide effects usually disappear after 2-3 cycles. If your side effects are bothersome after 2-3 cycles or if heavy bleeding occurs, continue taking your pills and call the clinic for an appointment to talk about your prescription. \nDrug Interactions \nThe effectiveness of the Pill is lowered when taken with certain medications, including antibiotics, anti-seizure, tuberculosis, and migraine medications. If you are taking any medications, tell your clinician. When taking medications that may interfere with BC, consider adding a backup method of birth control, like condoms and spermicide. As with all drugs, it is useful to inform all your medical providers if you are using hormonal birth control. \nWomen who experience any of the following symptoms while taking The Pill should call the clinic immediately: \n·Abdominal pains (severe) \n·Chest pain or shortness of breath \n·Headaches (severe) \n·Eye problems, such as blurred vision \n·Severe leg or arm pain or numbness
561778
You shouldn't wait so long to take your pill, because yes, it will decrease the effectiveness and increase your chances of becoming pregnant. It's a good idea that you take a pregnancy test and make sure that you're not. And try to take your pill around the same time every day, otherwise you might end up pregnant, if you aren't already.
299463
PythonPrincess was correct, but it may not be a stronger pill that you need. There are different types of pills that work a bit differently, and many women find (along with the help of their physicians) that they will need to experiment to find what works best.  3 months is really too early to tell.  I would at least wait 6 months, and keep track of any other side effects that might occur.  If you miss a pill and need to double up on it, it is safe but can mess up your schedule.
865481
In this case, you'd be strarting as if you never used the pill before. Usually the package has it all spelled out. You can start on the period, or you can start at random time BUT you'll HAVE to use a back-up method for that cycle. That means, paying for condoms. Might as well pay the full price for pills and do it right and not worry about it.
629420
The morning after pill is basically a high dose of the regular birthcontrol pill.  i.e. taking several birth control pills at once has the same effect.\n\nIt is best to take it immediately or within 24 hours.  It is to be used as an emergency contraceptive, like when a condom breaks or the woman is raped.  It is not meant for routine use.  If used as indicated/directed, it should have no permanent harm to the user.\n\nHowever, it should be noted that the common birth control pill has been shown to permanently reduce a woman's libido.  It always surprises me that this isn't publicized more.  At first, I thought it was an attempt by conservative elements to stop women from taking birth-control pills.  But the studies have been successfully replicated.  BC pills permantently lower a woman's sex drive.  Who knows the implications of a higher dose morning after pill?  I haven't seen any research on that.