Expert: Norman Solberg - 5/4/2010

Question
I'm taking Mononessa. I take my pills around 9:00 each night. I took my first sugar pill last night (same time as usual), will I start my period the following day around the same time? Or could it take a couple days for the hormones to leave my body and allow the egg to drop?
Note: this is the first month I have taken any birth control, therefore this is my first period while on Mononessa. How long does it take, on average, for a woman's body to adapt to the pill's schedule?

Answer
Usually the egg doesn't drop as long as you're taking the pill.  That's why the pill is effective every day of the month, even though you're only taking the active pills for 21 days out of 28.  Women vary as to when their period comes while on the pill.  It will usually be 2-3 days after the last active pill.  Generally your body has adapted to the pill's schedule by the time you finish the first pill pack.  By then your ovaries are resting and the pill is supplying your hormones.