How to take oral contraceptive medication
Estrogen/progestin combination pill schedule
Use one of the following methods:
- You can take your first pill on any of the first 5 days of your menstrual cycle. Some women pick a "start" day of the week, like Sunday. Others start on the first day of their period. Talk to your health professional about what might work best for you.
- Try to take your pill at the same time every day. Take one tablet daily for 20 or 21 days. This is followed by 7 or 8 days of no hormones (or sugar pills provided in the pack). This is when you have a menstrual period. You then start a new pack of pills.
Another method is to take the active hormone pills continuously for 3 months. This is followed by 7 days of sugar pills. You then start a new pack of pills. Your doctor can prescribe this as an unlabelled use. If you have breakthrough bleeding during the 3 months, your health professional will prescribe extra estrogen.
If you prefer, you can use a weekly hormone skin patch or monthly vaginal ring instead of daily pills.
| Author: | Kathe Gallagher, MSW Carrie Henley | Last Updated: March 30, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | Renée M. Crichlow, MD - Family Medicine Kirtly Jones, MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology Donald Sproule, MD, CM, CCFP, FCFP - Family Medicine | |
 | ||
| |