Ally asked
I have two vacations scheduled this summer, both when I’m supposed to get my period. My period is very regular it comes exactly every 28 days. I’ve been on birth control for three years now. If I were to take my birth control a week late so that my period also comes a week late, no longer matching up with my vacations, would that be okay? I got my period on Sunday, I am supposed to start a new pack Wednesday, and I had unprotected sex Saturday morning and Friday night. I will not be having unprotected sex again until 3 weeks from now. Will I be protected from pregnancy then?
Answer
Although you could theoretically start your new pack of birth control pills a week later than usual to delay menses (i.e. your period) by one week, this generally isn't advised.
There is a very high chance that you will experience spotting or breakthrough bleeding throughout your cycle and around the time you typically have your period, especially since you have been taking your current birth control pills consistently for 3 years.
Delaying Period One Week And Pregnancy
In regard to your protection against pregnancy by starting your pills one week late, you will not be protected until you have taken 7 days of active pills in a row. During these 7 days, you need to use back-up contraception if you are sexually active.
You are essentially "missing doses" by skipping your first week of pills. Most birth control pill products will state something along the lines of the following in their prescribing information (this is from Yasmin):
"[If you miss 3 or more pills in week 1], you could become pregnant if you have sex in the 7 days after you restart your pills. You must use another birth control method (such as condoms and spermicides) as a back-up for those 7 days. You may not have your period this month but this is expected. However, if you miss your period two months in a row, call your healthcare provider because you might be pregnant."Note that not only may you have spotting or breakthrough bleeding during this cycle by starting your pills late, there is a chance you will miss your period altogether at the end of your cycle. It should return to normal the next month however.
Summary
- It generally is not recommended to start your pills one week late on purpose.
- If you do start one week late, you may experience spotting and breakthrough bleeding. In addition, you may miss you period that month.
- Lastly, by starting your pills one week late, you will not be protected from pregnancy until you have taken 7 days in a row of active pills.
