Is the pill effective from day one?

Bright Smile

Is the combined pill 99% effective from Day one or does it take a while for the hormones to build up in your system? thank you

tinkerbell

I think you have to give it a week or two for it to kick in.

If in doubt - ask your doctor / pharmacist who gave you the prescription.

samo

Dont know for sure, but am pretty positive it takes at least a month for it to become completely effective (or as effective as can be!) double check with your doctor!!!!

Winters

I think its at least 2 or 3 weeks or something. It was discussed on another thread a while ago.

As always, ask your doctor and read the instructions.

The_Conductor

Bright Smile wrote:

Is the combined pill 99% effective from Day one or does it take a while for the hormones to build up in your system? thank you

No, it isn't.

The accepted rule is when using the 21 day pack, to assume they are ineffectual until day 7 (and ditto if you miss taking one by more than 12 hours- and resume taking them immediately to assume ineffectiveness for the following 7 days).

Condoms are 95% effective though, from day one.
(that is- in a 99% statistically valid group of women relying solely on the male condom as a contraceptive measure, less than 5% of them became pregnant in a calendar year).

Also- the accepted efficacy of the combined pill is between 97% and 99.9% depending on the study- while its an excellent contraceptive measure, its not infallible- you have to take a range of other factors into account- including-

1) BMI of the person taking the pill
2) Whether you are on antibiotics or other medication which may affect the action of the pill (consult your doctor for info on this one)
3) The classic- is actually forgetting to take the pill
4) Illness that induces vomitting or diarhorrea may mean you do not absorb the active ingredients as you should do.

Etc.

Tiriel

spot on smccarrick!

samo

Cork_girl wrote:

spot on smccarrick!

I'm assuming you are a bloke smccarrick - well if so you know your stuff.

all the advice you could ever need!

eth0_

Bright Smile wrote:

Is the combined pill 99% effective from Day one or does it take a while for the hormones to build up in your system? thank you

ASK YOUR F*CKING DOCTOR OR PHARMACIST!
I'm really sick of the people who come on here and ask stupid questions like this. What if you were given the wrong information by someone here, and ended up pregnant? Do you have that much disregard for your own wellbeing?

CathyMoran

Yes, Shane is a bloke last time I looked He wanted a certain ex of his to go on the pill - that is why he knows so much about it

samo

CathyMoran wrote:

Yes, Shane is a bloke last time I looked He wanted a certain ex of his to go on the pill - that is why he knows so much about it

I see, all becomes clear - so thats why he did his homework!!!

Victor

eth0_ wrote:

ASK YOUR F*CKING DOCTOR OR PHARMACIST! I'm really sick of the people who come on here and ask stupid questions like this.

Chill, if it wasn't for people like this there would be no new babies in the world.

The_Conductor

samo wrote:

I see, all becomes clear - so thats why he did his homework!!!

.....Cough!!! cough!!!

To the original poster- while I may not agree with eth0_s use of language- this is not a medical forum, a useful rule of thumb is- "If in doubt, check it out". If you are not certain in any manner- seek professional assistance before you make any assumptions.......

samo

Victor wrote:

Chill, if it wasn't for people like this there would be no new babies in the world.

or no frantic panicking on the Personal issues board!

But do agree, if I was prescribed the pill, I would logically address any issues with doctor or pharmacist but then again eveyone is different!

[Jackass]

You have to wait untill after your next period before it works/ you start or something??........i'll call my ex and ask her ooops, wait,no i wont, her pill didn't work!!! :eek:

Ms Beanbag

No hes not spot on. The pill is effective from day 1, if you start takin it on 1st day of your cycle. If you take it on 5th day, you need to use another form of contraception for 7 days after..
well thats what it says on my pack anyway!

Etho, for a mod, you have terrible manners.

Tiriel

Ms Beanbag wrote:

No hes not spot on. The pill is effective from day 1, if you start takin it on 1st day of your cycle. If you take it on 5th day, you need to use another form of contraception for 7 days after..
well thats what it says on my pack anyway!

Etho, for a mod, you have terrible manners.

nope. not effective for a full 7 days for taking pill on first day of your cycle. (this is when you are first going on the pill).

Victor

Ms Beanbag wrote:

well thats what it says on my pack anyway!

I've never heard that. Most things like that take weeks to kick in. What pack do you use?

The_Conductor

From healthsquare: http://www.healthsquare.com/newrx/ora1310.htm

Once again- I hasten to add- if in doubt consult a professional authority.

Some brands can be started on the first day of your menstrual cycle or on the first Sunday afterwards. Others must be started on the fifth day of the cycle or the first Sunday afterwards. The instructions below are for the first-Sunday schedule.

Oral contraceptives are supplied in 21-day and 28-day packages.

FOR A 21-DAY SCHEDULE

Oral contraceptives are taken every day for a 3-week period, followed by 1 week of no oral contraceptives; this cycle is repeated each month.

1) Starting on the first Sunday after the beginning of your menstrual period, take one tablet daily (at the same time each day) for the next 21 days. Note: If your period begins on Sunday, take the first tablet that day.

2) Wait 1 week before taking any more tablets. Your menstrual period should occur during this time.

3) Following this 1-week waiting time, begin taking a daily tablet again for the next 21 days.

FOR A 28-DAY SCHEDULE

Starting on the first Sunday after the beginning of your menstrual period, take one tablet daily (at the same time each day) for the next 28 days. Continue taking the oral contraceptives according to your physician's instructions. Note: If your period begins on Sunday, take the first tablet that day.

FOR BOTH 21- AND 28-DAY REGIMENS

When following a regimen with a Sunday or Day 5 start, use an additional method of birth control for the first 7 days of the cycle.

The_Conductor

Ps- as you can also see from that link- two common items seriously affect the efficacy of the oral contraceptive- namely Aspirin and its derivatives, along with common Vitamin C........

I think you can see where the 3% failure rate is coming from!

caveat emptor........

Be careful!!!!!!

Seek professional advice

Tiriel

Also remember that some medicines can be affected by vitamin C so be sure to keep your doctor informed of any supplements you may be taking. Women on the contraceptive pill should not take excessively large doses of vitamin C at the same time of day as this may reduce the pill's effectiveness.

http://www.vitamins-nutrition.org/vitamins/vitamin-c.html
yikes I never knew that.. and I take vitamin c every morning :eek: thanks smccarrick!!!

Ms Beanbag

as I said, your supposed to take it on 1st day of period. or the 5th day of your period. It IS effective from day 1. if taken on 5th day- use another method of contraception for 7days after...
http://www.irishhealth.com/index.html?level=4&id=1400&ss=the%20pill
Cork girl what I said is correct!!
I dunno why people post things they havent a clue about... :mad:

Tiriel

for someone just going on the pill.. it is definitely not effective after taking only one pill!

edit. depends on the pill. this is how it is with mine..

Ms Beanbag

eh?! why dont you follow up on the link I just posted?! or why dont you just research it for yourself...
some people on here... :rolleyes:

samo

Ms Beanbag wrote:

eh?! why dont you follow up on the link I just posted?! or why dont you just research it for yourself...
some people on here... :rolleyes:

I would if i was original poster still err on the side of caution and think that it is not effective though, chances are slim they are on the same pill as you!!!!

The_Conductor

I'm quoting the original poster- and interpreting her query to mean that she is starting to take the combined pill for the first time (as per her message below).

Bright Smile wrote:

Is the combined pill 99% effective from Day one or does it take a while for the hormones to build up in your system? thank you

In reply to your invitation to research the combination pill I direct you to the following: http://www.health.arizona.edu/Health%20Education%20On-Line%20Library/Womens%20Health/ocinfo.html

http://www.health.arizona.edu/Health%20Education%20On-Line%20Library/Womens%20Health/ocinfo.html wrote:

Combined oral contraceptive (OC) pills contain two hormones, estrogen and progestin. They work by stopping ovulation (release of eggs) and by making the lining of the uterus thinner. Among typical users who start combined pills for the first time, about 5% will experience an accidental pregnancy in the first year. Often, this occurs because pills are not taken correctly. If pills are used consistently and correctly, one in 1,000 women will become pregnant. Use a backup contraceptive for the first seven days of your first pack of pills.

Ms Beanbag- I agree with you on one point.... some people on here.....

Stark

eth0_ wrote:

ASK YOUR F*CKING DOCTOR OR PHARMACIST!
I'm really sick of the people who come on here and ask stupid questions like this. What if you were given the wrong information by someone here, and ended up pregnant? Do you have that much disregard for your own wellbeing?

Boardsters know well the dangers of letting idiots reproduce. They'll be careful with their information

Cute_Button

Ms Beanbag wrote:

I dunno why people post things they havent a clue about... :mad:

Calm down, take a deep breath- and hold off hitting the "Submit Reply" button until you think things through. The advice being offered is- if anything err on the side of caution, and its backed up with an external source. No-one is trying to start an argument here- just trying to stop someone else making a mistake that they will regret later. Its not a medical board- as the sticky on the front page plainly says, and as smccarrick says "if in doubt, check it out - and if you are not certain in any manner- seek professional assistance before you make any assumptions......."

Oryx

Original poster, I understand your query, I dont understand why you dont just double up with a condom for couple of weeks as a safety zone, to be sure to be sure, as they say. Why the rush to unprotected sex? Surely the guy can wear a glove for another little while to save you both heaps of worry?

Ms Beanbag

smccarrick wrote:

Combined oral contraceptive (OC) pills contain two hormones, estrogen and progestin. They work by stopping ovulation (release of eggs) and by making the lining of the uterus thinner. Among typical users who start combined pills for the first time, about 5% will experience an accidental pregnancy in the first year. Often, this occurs because pills are not taken correctly. If pills are used consistently and correctly, one in 1,000 women will become pregnant. Use a backup contraceptive for the first seven days of your first pack of pills.

I see you conveniently stopped the quoting there...
To finish the sentence: "Use a backup method:
During the first seven days that you take your pills unless you started the pack on the first day of your regular menstrual bleeding ." This means you use a backup method for 7 days if you start taking pills on the 5th day of your period. AS I HAVE ALREADY SAID.
Just admit the info I posted was correct.
Both you and Cork girl posted incorrect info.
You know you should have researched information when you originally posted.

CathyMoran

Ms Beanbag - erring on the side of caution is no harm. Would not like to take chances when it comes to contraception - surely waiting at least 7 days did not hurt anyone (and there are the barrier methods that can be used in these days). It is better to be safe about this issue - there are enough things that can go wrong when taking the pill so waiting for its full efficacy can do no harm. I do not claim to be an expert on this field, am not a doctor.

This is not a medical forum and the original poster should still seek medical advice.

Tiriel

I am only saying what my DOCTOR told me.. and what it says on my own pill packet.

Bright Smile

"ASK YOUR F*CKING DOCTOR OR PHARMACIST!
I'm really sick of the people who come on here and ask stupid questions like this. What if you were given the wrong information by someone here, and ended up pregnant? Do you have that much disregard for your own wellbeing?"

People so quickly go jumping down other peoples throats on the boards...i asked ONE QUESTION-i never implied that i was having sex or am going to,i never said i was on the pill, the question was not remotely suggestive of a disregard of my wellbeing and i am more than able to decipher the disclaimer for myself. etho, you need to chill- in this day and age everyone knows you'd have to be a pullthrough for a shortcut to take all given information as fact.
things have to get more clean cut on the boards- it was a matter of answering the question asked.

smccarick and everyone else, thank you very much for the informative advice.

Gordon

Indeed.