how long do i have to wait for birth control to be effective?
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Combination Pills (COCs) 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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When taken as directed, birth control pills are usually effective the first month you begin taking them. To be safe, some doctors recommend the use of another form of birth control, such as condoms and foam, during the first month. After that, you can just rely on the pill for birth control.
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If you got your second shot on time, it will start working right away — so there's no need to wait to have sex. You only have to wait the week after your first birth control shot. As long as you get your shots on time (every 12-13 weeks), you'll always be protected.
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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. If you start combination pills within 5 days after the first day of your period, you'll be protected from pregnancy right away.
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Quick start. During your medical appointment, take your first pill as soon as you get the pack from your doctor. Take the second pill the next day. During the first 7 days of pills, use a backup method of birth control, like a condom.
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Plan B must be taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex or a birth control failure in order to be effective. It is best to take it as soon as possible, because Plan B is more effective the sooner you take it.
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This medication works in the body for several days after you take the dose. To avoid the risks of harm to the developing baby, if you are child-bearing age and may become pregnant, be sure to use an effective form of birth control for 7 days after taking this medication.
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Normally doctors start the IVF treatment from the moment a woman gets her period. But the use of birth control pills, for 10-14 days after a period, allows the treatment to be adjusted without compromising the "ovarian response to stimulation," says Dr. Pinkas.
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How Long Does a Birth Control Patch Take to Work? The time it takes for a birth control patch to become effective depends on when you had your last period. If you start using the patch within the first part of your period, usually the first five days or so, the patch will start working immediately.
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How soon does the pill work? 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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Once inserted, birth control implants can prevent pregnancy for up to three years, but you can have it removed at any time. In other words, you could theoretically have it removed after just a few months. The long-term aspect to this birth control only applies if you keep it in place.
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For the first cycle of use only, use an additional form of non-hormonal birth control (such as condoms, spermicide) for the first 7 days to prevent pregnancy until the medication has enough time to work. If you start on the first day of your period, you do not need to use back-up birth control the first week.
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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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If you start taking the birth control pill in the first five days of your menstrual cycle (i.e., the first five days of bleeding), then it's effective right away. But if you start the pill at any other time in your cycle, you need to use condoms for a week, to let the pill reach full effectiveness.
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This usually takes about three to four months. If you're still experiencing side effects after three or four months or if your side effects become more severe, make an appointment with your doctor. Most women can find a birth control pill that doesn't cause problems and is easy for them to take.
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If you take a pill more than 3 hours late, take it as soon as you remember even if that means you will take 2 pills in one day. Use another method of birth control for the next 48 hours to prevent pregnancy.
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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.