Birth Control Pills - Brooklyn, NY

Updated on January 17, 2008
J.G. asks from Brooklyn, NY
23 answers

Hi
This might sound stupid to some moms, but this is my first time on birth control pills. My doctor gave me a prescription cause i asked her for it and she didn't tell me anything about them. So, the pills are ortho tri-cyclen lo. Now, i assumed i start the day i get my period, but im hearing different stories. I heard to start the Sunday of my period and i also heard to start the Sunday before my period. So, im supposed to get my period this coming Fri, should i have started yest or this coming Sunday? I just called my doc and she's on vacation this week. I appreciate your help!

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L.S.

answers from New York on

Hi J.,
for the first time you should start with your first day of your period. there is a sticker which you could put over the printed days that it would fit with your days. i also heard that tons of women start on monday (thats why all the girlfriends have period on the same day! hahaha) and also heard that it really doesn't matter, but all my doctors and also the pharmasist and my long experience calls for first day of period. I also wanted to tell you, i don't know if you care, but if you would pick ortho-tri-cyclen (regular no lo which is really not such different) you can get that generic which is tri-sprintec and it is only $15, so it made sence to me (i was getting the same ones and than ask the doctor to change it because you can't get generic on the "lo" ones). Good luck L.

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W.M.

answers from Buffalo on

Hey J...

You start the Sunday of your period, so if you are supposed to get your period this Friday you start your pill on Sunday the 16th.

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S.G.

answers from New York on

You start the pill pack the Sunday after your period starts. If you get your period on Friday start the pills on Sunday.
A mom and nurse

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T.P.

answers from Atlanta on

Not a stupid question, doctor probably assumed you knew what to do since you are 28 years old. I was on the same birth control. You are suppose to start the Sunday after you get your period. Since today is Monday you can double up and take Sunday's and Monday's pill today. Good luck.

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E.G.

answers from New York on

If you get your period Fri Dec 14, start Sun Dec 16. There is another way to take it, but I'm a Sunday start. You can also look at the patient insert that comes with the pills. I'm a certified pharmacy technician, but ask your pharmacist if you still don't feel comfortable.

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B.P.

answers from New York on

Hi J., I am on the same pills. You are supposed to start the Sunday AFTER you get your period.

C.V.

answers from New York on

J.,

You are suposed to start the pill the first Sunday after your period. So since your getting your period of Friday, 12-14, you would take your first pill on Sun, 12-16. Make sure you take the pill everyday at the same time or within the hour everyday. If your not to good with taking it the same time and remembering, try the patch. You change it once a week for three weeks then the forth no patch and thats when ur supposed to get your period. Good luck!

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T.E.

answers from New York on

Hi J. G,
i used to take that brand and i remember starting on the sunday after my period, good luck. also the package use to have direction with examples ,check it out if you still have it.
i recommand using another method for the first 30 days for extra proection.
Trecey

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K.M.

answers from Syracuse on

You *can* start the pill any day after you start your period. Most doctors, and most women say start on the first Sunday after your period 1. because most packs are already marked that way, and 2. if you start the pills on the Sunday after you start your period then once your body gets regulated you won't have a period on the weekends.

I took this same pill years ago and discovered that it made me very moody. Actually, all (of the ones I've tried) birth control pills make me moody, so I don't take them. Of course my husband has a different adjective for moody! That's definately one of less harmful side effects to be aware of. Good luck. Hope they work for you.

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C.A.

answers from Rochester on

No worries J.. I've tried different ones many times. In a pack of pills the last week is generally a sugar pill. That is the week you have your period. They usually are a different color unless you are nursing, then they are the same color and do have hormones in them. For most people the easiest way to remember is to start a pack is on the Sunday after your period starts. That way your period comes during the last week of pills in a pack. Your body may need a couple months to be regulated, but if you take your pill at the same time everyday you will be able to the know the day and close to the time your period will arrive each month. Good luck and you can always talk to the pharmacist that gave you the pills. It's their job to know and answer any questions about the specific prescription they dispense.

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A.S.

answers from Rochester on

When I was on those pills, I started the Sunday after my cycle started -- made it easier to know if I had taken one that day or not... once you get going a couple months, you can also "time" your periods... or at least I did... for instance, if I knew we were going on vacation and it normally was "that week", I would either take the "hold off" pills for an extra week so it would start a week later or I would take the "let's go" pills a week early and be done with the cycle by the time we left. Mind you, don't do this often, but it did come in handy those couple times a year. I'm not on the pill now as my husband and I are in the TTC stage and hoping soon to have a little one again (miscarried the first one).

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T.M.

answers from Rochester on

Hi J.,
First of all I am a nurse and I verified my info with my husband a pharmasist. To start your new pill generally it is a sunday start. The first sunday after your period starts.... but... you can start 24 hrs after you start your period then you will need no back-up protection.If you do the sunday start you will need back up protection for one month.I hope you understsnt this. If not send a SOS to ____@____.com. .God Bless! Merry Christmas!!

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L.N.

answers from New York on

I have been taking the pill since I was 16,I am now 33.

If you start on Friday, take it on Sunday.

If your period came on Sunday, take it on Sunday. You take it the week you are bleeding or right after you finished, say your period finished on Thursday you take it Sunday.

You not suppose to start the week before you get your period, it has to be during or right after on that Sunday.
You can be on your cylce when you start.

You know what I found strange is that your doctor didn't even explain the pill to you. There are side effects and other things that I feel should have been explained. I would question your doctors professional manner. Plus if you weren't comfortable enough to ask , then maybe you should think about another doctor. You should be able to discuss things with the doctor. I ask my doctor everything and he sits with me after my visit to discuss any concerns I may have or to explain anything that needs to be clarified. Then there is always the nurse to talk to.

Anyway, Good Luck.

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R.O.

answers from New York on

I used Ortho tri-cyclen for many years before I got pregnant with my first son. You are suppose to start it the Sunday after you start your period, so you should start it on the 16th.

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N.P.

answers from New York on

Hi J.;

Since this is your first time on birth control pils AND the doctor didn't say anything about them, you need to make sure you know the potential side effects of them. You may or may not get them, but please be on the look out for them. The reason I bring this up is that depression is one of them and the doctors have yet to acknowledge that it is a side effect. I recommend that you check the forum http://www.aphroditewomenshealth.com/ and go to the bulletin board CONTRACEPTION. It is slanted toward women who have trouble with birth control pills, but it is VERY educational and helpful even if you use BCP. So please make sure you educate yourself about the pills so you can make the connection IF side effects hit you.

Good luck with the pills and yes you start them the Sunday AFTER your period or on the first day of your period...

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A.F.

answers from New York on

you should start your pills on the first sunday after your period starts(like you said, if you're getting your period on friday, start the pills on sunday)

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J.F.

answers from New York on

You start the pill on the first day of your cycle which is the first day of your period. Regardless of which day of the week it happens to be.
Now, after I have written my response, I read responses of others, and I must admitt I am quite shocked. It seems that something must have dramatically changed for the past few years. Ask you doctor then. Good luck and please let me know what the dr said. Now I am REALLY curious.
SUNDAY SUNDAY SUNDAY it is!!!! I just checked the full product information and in case of ortho tri-cyclen lo the first white active tablet should be taken the first Sunday after menstruation begins! You can check it out yourself on http://www.thepill.com/thepill/shared/pi/Tri-Cyclen_Lo_PI...

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L.D.

answers from Albany on

Hi, I believe it is the Sunday after you start your cycle.

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Q.F.

answers from New York on

if you ever have any questions about any kind of medication you are given (and have a dr. that just gives it to you, and doesn't explain) the best bet is to call up the pharmacist. sadly everyone had different ideas on when/how to take certain things being the fact that some dr's tell different things then one another. (sometimes not...depends on the med.) so i would call your pharmacist, and ask them...if there's no directions on the pill box/container, then they should know!

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A.H.

answers from New York on

hi J.-
you need to let your period happen before you start the pill... so if it begins on a tuesday, you can start on pill that saturday or sunday... you can start any day of the week - don't wait too long after you get your period b/c you want to make sure you don't begin the next ovulation cycle.
the whole "start on sunday" thing is marketing by the pharma companies to make it easy for women to remember what day of the week to begin.
really it's best to choose the day that will be easiest for you to remember each month (i start my pill on fridays).
the most important thing with the pill for full effect is to begin each month on the same day of the week.

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M.F.

answers from Utica on

I just stopped taking that pill. You can either start it the day your period starts, which is a Day One Starter. Or you can start it the Sunday after your period starts then you would be a Sunday Starter. You can do either it works the same both ways.

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J.G.

answers from New York on

You start them the sunday after your period. Even if you still have it or you got it that sunday. It's always the sunday after your start your period.

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M.K.

answers from Buffalo on

Hi J.. I believe you are supposed to take your first pill the Sunday after your period.

M.

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