does birth control start working right away?
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If you start combination pills within 5 days after the first day of your period, you'll be protected from pregnancy right away. For example, if you get your period Monday morning, you can start the pill anytime until Saturday morning and be protected from pregnancy that same day.
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Starting on the fifth day of your cycle or before If you start the pill on the fifth day of your period or before, you will still be protected from pregnancy straight away, unless you have a short menstrual cycle (your period is every 23 days or less).
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You can start taking birth control pills as soon as you get them — any day of the week, and anytime during your menstrual cycle.
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Combination pills contain two hormones that prevent ovulation. The first pill is taken on the Sunday following a woman's period. These pills take 7 days to become fully effective.
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How soon does the pill work? Your body will need about one to three months to adjust to the pill. Use another form of birth control, such as latex condoms, during the first week. After the first week of taking pills regularly, you can use only the pill for birth control.
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It can take up to seven days for the pill to become effective in preventing pregnancy. During this time, you should use another form of birth control.
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If you start taking combination pills within 5 days after your period starts, you'll be protected from pregnancy right away. If you start combination pills any other time, you need to take the pill for 7 days before you're protected from pregnancy.
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Emergency contraception — the morning-after pill — is effective if started within 120 hours, or five days. The sooner emergency contraception is started, the better it works.
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If you get the birth control shot within the first seven days after the start of your period, you're protected from pregnancy immediately. If you get it at any other point during your cycle, you'll need to use a backup form of birth control, like condoms, for the first seven days.
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But depending on when you start the patch, you may need to use a backup birth control method (like condoms) for the first 7 days. If you start using the patch during the first 5 days of your period, it will start working right away and you won't need backup birth control.
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Do You Ovulate on the Pill? People who take oral contraceptives, or birth control pills, generally don't ovulate. During a typical 28-day menstrual cycle, ovulation occurs approximately two weeks before the start of the next period. But cycles can vary widely.
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Yes. You could become pregnant if you have sex during the 7 days after you restart your pills. You MUST use a non-hormonal birth control method (such as condoms) as a back-up for those 7 days.
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You can start taking birth control pills as soon as you get them — any day of the week, and anytime during your menstrual cycle. But when you'll be protected from pregnancy depends on when you start and the kind of pill you're using.
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Starting on the first day of your period If you start the combined pill on the first day of your period (day one of your menstrual cycle) you will be protected from pregnancy straight away. You will not need additional contraception.
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You can start taking birth control pills as soon as you get them — any day of the week, and anytime during your menstrual cycle. But when you'll be protected from pregnancy depends on when you start and the kind of pill you're using. You may need to use a backup birth control method (like condoms) for up to 7 days.
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["If you start taking combination pills within 5 days after your period starts, you'll be protected from pregnancy right away. ... ", "If you start combination pills any other time, you need to take the pill for 7 days before you're protected from pregnancy."]
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As long as you've been taking your pill every day and starting your pill packs on time, you're protected from pregnancy even during that off week. The pill works by preventing your ovaries from releasing eggs — a process called ovulation.