Expert: Norman Solberg - 8/17/2011

Question
I am 17, and I have been taking birth control (the pill) since about late May.
About 10 days ago, I had sex, and we started out without a condom. It definitely
did not last for more than 1 minute, and we finished with a condom, but is there
a possibility of being pregnant anyway? Although it was only about 10 days ago,
I'm still very nervous because I'm only 17 and I'm just about to go off to
college! I'm anxiously waiting for my period to come, but since I'm only
finishing up my 3rd pack of the pill, I don't know when I'll be getting it, and
I also don't remember when I got it last. I have already taken 2 of the 4
inactive pills in the pack, and still have not gotten it, but for the past 2
packs I got my period in the middle of the pack anyway.

Answer
As long as you don't miss any pills, the chance of pregnancy is very slight.  Normally a woman will get her period while taking the inactive pills.  If your period is coming in the middle of the pack, that's called breakthrough bleeding, and because of that, you might not get your period during the inactive pills.  In case your period doesn't come, I'd do a pregnancy test, just to be sure.  As long as it's negative, you can continue taking the pill as usual.  I would talk to your doctor about switching to a different pill, so that you won't have the breakthrough bleeding and will have your period after finishing the active pills.  Breakthrough bleeding usually clear up by the third pack, but since it hasn't, it's better to try a different pill.  Best wishes.