Do I have to start on Day 1 of my Alesse birth control pack?

Question

Being busy with final exams, I forgot to pick up my refill of Alesse 28 for this month (which I was supposed to start today).

Several months ago, I stopped taking Alesse at around Day 12 or so, but once it came time to begin a new pack, I started taking it again, and have been taking it regularly ever since.

Because I forgot to pick up this month's pack, I thought about taking the leftover pills from the pack that I never finished until I can go get my prescription filled for this month, probably sometime later this week.

Is this safe?

Are all of the pink pills the same, or is it a bad idea not to start with a Day 1 pill?

I couldn't find an answer to this in the booklet that comes with Alesse.

Thanks!

Answer 1

Alesse is a monophasic pill, so all the active pills are exactly the same. It doesn't matter what order your take them in, as long as you take one a day. The days marked on the pack just help you remember if you have taken it that day or not.

I save the active few pills I skipped, just in case I have a delay in getting my next pack.

I take the leftovers, then continue with the new pack where I would have been up to if I had been taking them all from that pack. At the end of that pack, I put the spares away until next time I have a delay in renewing my prescription.

Answer 2

It may mess up your hormone flow and you may spot for a few days. I'm not sure where you should start, but your best bet is to contact a doctor!