I started Azurette this past Thursday under the Day 1 routine. According to the instructions (if I start on Day 1), I don’t have to “use a back-up method of birth control, since I am starting the pill at the beg. of my period.” Can I have 'safe' sex now?

Submitted by merkuree Sat 03/27/2010

Does that mean I can have

Submitted by merkuree on Sat, 03/27/2010 - 9:46pm.

Does that mean I can have unprotected sex right now even though it hasn’t been seven days since I started Azurette? Were the instructions written with the idea that most women don’t have sex while on their period, or can I really have sex now with nothing to worry about? Thanks! Other pills do this too, why?

If you start the Pill on the

Submitted by Monnica on Wed, 03/31/2010 - 4:09am.

If you start the Pill on the first day of your period, it is considered effective right away. It takes up to seven days for the hormones to become fully effective. However, the first seven days of a woman's cycle are already infertile, so no additional protection is required. If you start the method on any other day than the first day of your period, you need to use a backup plan for up to seven days.

For the minipill, you may need a backup method for 28 days. Ask your doctor to be sure. For the Pill, some doctors recommend using a backup method for the first 30 days. This is mainly to be sure that a pregnancy does not occur while you are still getting in the habit of taking a pill every day.

Best of luck, Dr. Williams

—

Monnica Williams, Ph.D.
Sex Education Advisor. www.MonnicaWilliams.com.

STD Facts and Photos: www.STDsInColor.com.
Free Pregnancy Testing Centers: 800-395-HELP.

 
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