Expert: Lyndsay Mercier - 6/18/2008

Question
Hey there.

I've been on birth control for about a year now and I've had no problems. I've
just come into a situation where I can't find an exact answer and it's just a
concern I would like to understand...

I've suffered a lot of stress lately, to a point where I've misplaced everything
and missed a pill. I understand that these factors can cause an early period;
which is exactly what I went through. So for the remaining two weeks of a
pack I was on, I had my period. As soon as my placebo began, my
menstruation halted or at least minimized significantly (to just spotting).

The question for me is: If I am taking no pills (containing hormones) and
having no period, how much protection do I have from pregnancy at this
point? I only missed ONE pill and continued to take each pill as instructed.
Does my body have enough hormones to be 'as effective' as it usually would
if I hadn't had my period so early?

Thank you very much.
Michelle.

Answer
Michelle,

Since your missed pill was over two weeks ago, I'm fairly certain that would have been enough time for your body to "rebuild" its level of synthetic hormones again. If you are really concerned, it certainly wouldn't hurt to use a backup method of birth control in the meantime, such as a condom.
In the future, if you miss a pill during the second or third week, you should take your missed pill AND the pill for the current day (for a total of 2 pills, never more than that). If the missed pill happens during your first week, you should take the 2 pills the next day, and then be sure to use a condom for the next 7 days.

Hope I could help!

Lyndsay