after a week of missed period, are birth control pills still effective against pregnancy?
2006-11-28 02:22:13 · 8 answers · asked by jennifer36 1 in Health ➔ Women's Health
I don't get what you mean by "still". Were you taking them before? If you were, when did you stop? If you're period is a week late, and you stopped taking your pills a month ago, you need to take a pregnancy test. If it's positive, you don't have to worry about whether the pill is effective. If it's not, switch to condoms for the first couple of weeks after you start your pills again. If you're taking the pill because you don't want to get pregnant, you have to remember to take them. If you find you forget them often, you need to take with your doctor about a different form of birth control. Depo-provera, or the patch might be better for you. You might also consider using condoms regularly as a back up.
2006-11-28 02:39:39 · answer #1 · answered by IAINTELLEN 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe. The pill is effective all the time - even during the week that you have your period. However, if it is later than you expected, here are some things to consider: Have you missed any pills in your pack? Taken any of them later than usual? All these things could lead to a reduced protection. If your period is late I would take a pregnancy test and use a secondary form of birth control until you find out for sure and until you get your period. The pills are only as good as you are (i.e. if you aren't good about your schedule they will be less effective).
Of course, there are other reasons besides pregnancy that can cause you to miss a period too: stress; malnutrition; nursing a baby, and more. Talk to your doctor to find out more. Hope this helps.
2006-11-28 10:31:29 · answer #2 · answered by biogeogirl02 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if you missed your period for a week already, i would get a home pregnancy test just to make sure. call your doctor. and if you are going to be on the pill, be on the pill and stay on it. if you dont want to be on the pill, get off of it. its not good for your body or hormones to be on and off the pill. make a choice and stick with it. it also takes a month (an entire pack of pills) for the pills to be effective, so you definitely need a back up method for that month.
2006-11-28 10:41:11 · answer #3 · answered by dana 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, first off, take a pregnancy test to make sure you aren't before you start taking your pills again. Then, start taking them everyday. It takes most birth control pills 7 days before they are completely in your system enough to be considered effective by a doctor. Of course you shouldn't take them if you are pregnant, and you shouldn't have any sex until they are back in your system, unless you want to risk a pregnanacy again. Good luck.
2006-11-28 10:26:48 · answer #4 · answered by stacijo531 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
OK if you miss two doses of pill you have to use other methods. If you just did not have a period no big deal pill does that to some women.
2006-11-28 10:28:04 · answer #5 · answered by M T 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
birth control is only effective if you are not pregnant, if you may already be pregnant then no it won't help. If you missed your period and your sure your not pregnant, then yes keep taking your pills, they are still effective.
2006-11-28 10:33:01 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Quit messin around with birth control pills and use something that actually works. CONDOMS. Or Depo Prevara.
http://www.plannedparenthood.org/birth-control-pregnancy/birth-control/the-shot.htm
2006-11-28 10:26:52 · answer #7 · answered by Daft One 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Girl, you had better use a back up method.
2006-11-28 10:24:08 · answer #8 · answered by Renée P 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋