Expert: Norman Solberg - 10/22/2009

Question
Hi, im 17yrs old and i started my placebo pills on sunday and now its thursday and i still havent gotten my period. ive been having alot of stomach problems in the past week and have been feeling exhausted alot. Does this mean im pregnant? i went off my birth control for about a month and just started it back up  on the 12th of october but wasnt using protection when i was off it. Is pregnancy the likely cause?


Answer
I suspect that pregnancy is the likely cause, but the question is confusing.  If you started back on the pill on October 12, how can you be on the placebo pills now 10 days later, unless you started in the middle of the pack?  In any case, a pregnancy test (first morning urine) will generally be positive by the time you get symptoms.  I would do one tomorrow morning.  In the future, it's always best to start the pill during a period, and start with the first pill in the pack.  Best wishes.