Expert: Drea Jean H. - 5/16/2006

Question
I usually get my period on the Tues or Wed of the week I am taking the sugar pills.  So then I start my new pack on that Sunday with the active pills.  I have heard that missing pills earlier in the pack can be more detrimental then missing them later in the pack - is there any truth to this?  Also, is there any way that missing those first active pills can trigger the body to ovulate and if so, how long would the body take to do this - I have heard about 10 days - is there any truth to this?  The reason I ask is that I was in my sugar pills the week of Sept 4-10 and should have started my active ones Sun Sept 11 - but obviously missed taking them at some point (I'm pregnant).  Could your body, due to missing pills, trigger itself into going into the ovulation process, even though I had gotten my period during the week of sugar pills?  Thanks for your help!!

Answer
Hi Dana,

Yes, missing pills can cause you to ovulate. And that can happen at anytime. Even if you miss your pills late in the back, you could ovulate during or after your period. Women may even become pregnant during their period. Anytime of the month you miss two or more pills, it is possible you will ovulate. It will usually occur within 7 days of missing the pills, anytime in those 7 days. Not everyones body is the same, so their is no exact time frame.

Good Luck and Thanks,

Drea Jean