do you have to take last week of birth control?
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The birth control pills for the last week do not contain any active hormones. However, people who decide to skip the placebo pills must remember to restart the next pill pack on time. They need to skip no more than 7 days of pills to continue to prevent pregnancy.
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If all of the pills in the first three weeks of your pill pack are the same color, you don't have to worry because they all contain the same amount of hormonal medicine. You should continue taking your pills as usual and then on the third Sunday take the pill from the 2nd Sunday (that you missed).
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All 28 pills contain progestin (there are no placebo pills). You take one pill every day for the four-week cycle (pack). This way, you are getting a steady dose of the hormone. This means that you will have your period while you are still taking "active" pills.
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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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After you have taken the last active pill, take a reminder pill (without hormones) once daily for 4 days in a row unless otherwise directed by your doctor. You should have your period within 3 days after you take the last active tablet in the cycle during the fourth week of the pack.
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You can still have sex during this week without getting pregnant. As long as you're taking the pill correctly and starting every new pack the day after you finish the old one, there won't be any gaps or decreased effectiveness in your pregnancy protection.
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After you have taken the last active pill, take one reminder pill (with iron) once daily for 2 days in a row unless otherwise directed by your doctor. You should have your period during the fourth week of the cycle.
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It's fine to skip your "period" on the combined hormonal birth control pill. If you choose to skip your "period" continually, side effects can include breakthrough bleeding. Your uterus won't get “backed up”
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If you're switching from a combination pill to a progestin-only pill. You'll begin taking your new pills right away. However, if it's been five or more days since your last period, you'll need to use back-up birth control for the next two days until the pill kicks in.
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It is necessary to take 1 pill each day. Some types of pills include a 7-day break after 21 days to allow for a menstrual period. It is important to take the pill on time to prevent pregnancy.
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People do not need to take them to make the birth control pills effective, but it may be helpful to keep to a daily routine of taking the pill. While people do not need to take the placebo pills each month, they should speak to their doctor before manipulating their pills to skip their periods.
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If you've been taking birth control pills for some time and have had no side effects, it's likely that you can continue using them for as long as you need them and as long as your healthcare provider deems it's still a safe choice. For most healthy people, birth control pills are safe for long-term use.
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The last week's set of pills typically consists of placebos. Placebo pills are placeholders meant to help you stay on track by taking one pill every day until the next month starts.
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Timing — You can take emergency contraceptive pills any time during your menstrual cycle. It does not matter when you had your last period. Both the levonorgestrel pills and estrogen-progesterone pills are most effective when taken as soon as possible after unprotected sex.
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If you miss more than 2 birth control pills, call your doctor for instructions. You may need to take one pill daily until Sunday and then start a new pack. Or you might need to throw out the rest of the pill pack and start over with a new pack that same day.
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If you miss more than two pills, you should use a backup method of birth control (like condoms and spermicide) for seven days in a row. If you did not take a pill for over 48 hours, you are not protected against pregnancy again until you take your pill every day for 7 days in a row.
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You can start taking the birth control pill any day of the month. But depending 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.