Expert: Norman Solberg - 11/22/2008

Question
Hi! I'm Holley, 19. I've been on and off birth control for around 3 years now and have never experienced any side effects. I had my last period start on Nov. 8th. I began taking birth control pills again on the 9th (Sunday after my period starts). I hadn't given it a full month to kick in, before I had unprotected sex on the day following getting off my period (the 16th). We didn't use a 'pull out' method either. About 3 days later, I experienced brown spotting. So, I laid off the pills until I could find out what the problem is. Even off the pills, I'm still experiencing very light, brown spotting. Is there a good chance I got pregnant? Shouldn't I have had a period following getting off the bcpills?  Is it too early to use a home test?

Answer
Hi Holley,
If you start the pills during a normal period, usually you are protected after 7 days of the pills.  Since you had sex 7 days after starting, you're probably fine, although you're cutting it close.  The spotting may have just been the spotting that happens sometimes the first month or so on the pill.  Since you were only on the pills for 7 days, you might not get a period when stopping, or only get some spotting.  A home pregnancy test will usually be positive 2 weeks after conception, so in your case about Nov. 30.  I'd use something else (condoms) until you get a regular period.