A
female
age
30-35,
anonymous
writes:so i went to my doctor and got the pill but she was no help at all with what to do. So i had to research and ask my friends, basically I started my period this monday, but i started taking the pill today. My friends said this is fine, because apparently you can start the pill the first sunday after your period. Have i done this right, or am i being stupid thinking that taking it today? And will this keep me protected, or did the fact that i didn't start on the first day of my period mean i've messed it up and it wont protect me from pregnancy as easily?Also another question, i took it at 3:00pm, which is stupid because now i'll have to awkwardly take the pill that time everyday during when i have lectures and work on the weekend. Because it's my first day, can i have it in the evening tomorrow and carry on taking it in the evening instead? Or do i have to stick with the time i took it today for the next three months?Sorry about the questions, but my doctor and even the nurse gave me next to no help or advice on this. they just handed the pills over and ran brief what to do!
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female
reader, deirdre  +, writes (26 October 2012):
you can move the time forwards or backwards a few hours to suit your schedule, it wont affect your protection
A
female
reader, person12345  +, writes (22 October 2012):
 Read the leaflet! If you threw it away, you can download a copy on the website of whatever pill you are on. Just do a google search and it should be the first result. It explains everything you need. If you don't want to make an appointment with your doctor to ask more questions you can call and the nurse will explain everything, you can go to your local pharmacy and they will explain, or you can call a women's clinic and they will explain.
Though for your specific questions (I'm going off the standard combination pill, NOT the mini progesterone only pill, that's different), you can start the pill any time during your cycle, however you need to take the pill for a full 7 days before you are protected. The "Sunday start" is recommended because it aligns with your cycle better then just starting mid-cycle so it decreases the likelihood of spotting and such. It's not important when you start.
If you don't want to take your pills at 3PM, you can start taking them at a different time when you start your next pack (after your placebo week). It would probably be fine to just switch taking the pill to dinnertime for the rest of the pack. I've done it before. It helps to set an alarm on your phone so you remember to take it. Most women find it far more convenient to take at night than first thing in the morning because you probably don't want to have to wake up on weekends to take it at the same time as a weekday.
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A
female
reader, chigirl  +, writes (21 October 2012):
 You need to read the leaflet. Yes, the paper that came with the pills. It's all in there.
You can start the pill any day you want, but if you start it on any day EXCEPT for the first day of your period, then you need to be on the pill for at least 7 days before you are protected.
You can also skip your periods if you want to, by just continuing to take next months pills instead of having a break (or instead of taking the placebo pills).
Don't rely on what your friends tell you, and just ask your doctor next time. You probably didn't ask any questions, so how would she know what to inform you about? Although, she should have just asked you if it was your first time on the pill...
You don't have to take the pill at the EXACT same time every day (although this information is also in the leaflet...). You just need to take the pill around the same time. If you push it two hours later, heck, if you push it 10 hours later, no biggie. You just need to take it within 12 hours from the original time you were supposed to. So, if you normally take it at 3PM you can wait as far as until 3AM in the morning the next day. You will still be protected.
It would help if you gave us the name of the pills you are taking though.
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A
female
reader, Daisy_Daisy +, writes (21 October 2012):
 *practitioner
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A
female
reader, Daisy_Daisy +, writes (21 October 2012):
Your GP has been completely inadequate. If in doubt use condoms until your next menstrual cycle. In the mean time, go back to your GP (or to a family planning/ sexual health clinic) and ask a doctor or nurse exactly these questions you've asked us. You can request to see a different GP in the same practice without causing any offence and without feeling awkward about it. A nurse practioner at the surgery could give you the same advise as a doctor, actually, and it might be easier/ quicker to get an appointment.
To SageOldGuy: most GPs in my experience are not so inadequate. By and large the national health system serves people rather well (speaking as an employee but far more importantly a relative and friend to people whose lives have been saved). There may be a few bad apples .... etc.
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A
male
reader, Sageoldguy1465 +, writes (21 October 2012):
 P.S. Is this what we should expect - here in the Colonies - if we have "nationalized" health care?????
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A
male
reader, Sageoldguy1465 +, writes (21 October 2012):
Great "Doctor" you've found, there. NOW, go BACK TO HER and INSIST that she do her job.... and give you specific and detailed instructions in just how to take the pills, and what you should expect.....
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A
female
reader, janniepeg  +, writes (21 October 2012):
 I thought the pills come with inserts, instructions and warnings. You should take it the first sunday after your period is cleared. If you have a 28 pack, the last row is sugar pills or reminder pills with no estrogen, which is to allow you to have a period. So it makes sense that the first pill you take is after your period. You might even have spotting for the first two weeks. Just don't have unprotected sex for the first month. You can take your next pill either in the morning or at night time but stick to the same time every day.
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