Expert: Mia - 10/9/2008

Question
i started taking ortho cyclen 28 on 9-21-08, my period ended the 18th, so the 21st was the sunday afterwards. i am always on time when taking the pill, i have not missed any of them or anything. i had unprotected sex the 8th of october, so i have not even been on the pill for a month yet. is there a chance that im going to get pregnant, or has the pill already had enough time to start working and prevent pregnancy? my period usually comes around the middle of the month, so i have not had it yet...

please help.

Answer
Hi Britt,

If you start the pill on your period or the first Sunday afterwards, you are protected immediately, although it is a good idea to use a back-up method for the first 7 days on the pill. October 8 is well after those 7 days so you are protected. The pill is over 99% effective when taking on time and with no missed pills, so you are most likely not pregnant.

Since you are still new to the pill, your body is still adjusting to the hormones and will do so for the next 1-3 months. While this does not affect the protection, it is possible that your period won't arrive when you think it should. The pill can make periods lighter and can also make some women skip periods. So don't be alarmed if you notice any of this during your period week.

I hope this helps. If oyu have further questions, let me know.

-Mia