Management of regiment

Women take oral contraceptive pill mostly as prevention from getting pregnant or to keep their menstrual cycle consistent. Here a few tips to help you on how to take or start your first cycle of oral contraceptive pill.

How do I take the pill???

First day of menstruation or period

Take your first pill during the first 24 hours of your menstrual cycle. No back-up contraceptive method is needed when the pill is started the first day of your menses.

First Sunday after the period start

Wait until the first Sunday after your menstrual cycle begins to take your first pill. With this option use another method of birth control for the first 7 days of the first cycle only.

Any day of the month or today

You can start any day or even now. You don't necessarily need to wait for your next period.  If you have had unprotected sexual intercourse since your last period, perform a pregnancy test prior to start the pill. If it is negative, start the pill today.

Therefore, consult with your healthcare provider about what day is best for you to start taking the pills.

Once you choose to take oral contraceptive

Begin taking the pills
A 28-pill pack has 21 hormone pills. The additional seven pills are placebo pills (containing sugar or iron) to help the user stay in the habit of taking a pill every day. You take all 28 pills and then start a new pack immediately. During the last seven days of the pack, the days of placebo pills, you should menstruate. The flow usually starts the second or third placebo pill and lasts from two to five days.
If you are using a 21-day pack, stop taking pills for 1 week then start your new pack.

Set a schedule for taking birth control pills.
Take your birth control pill at the same time every day. This ensures that a constant hormone level is maintained at all times.
Consistent schedule also help to remember you when to take.

How to restart once I have a baby?
Oral contraceptive usually contain progestin or oestrogen or in combination of both hormone. If the pills contain:-
Progestin only – can take immediately after deliver or even breastfeeding
Combination – need to wait until three weeks after had given birth and for breast feeding wait for six weeks before starting the pills.

When should I stop taking the pill?

Once you get pregnant or decide to have a baby.
However, there is no evidence of an increased risk of miscarriage, or abnormalities, for women who have conceived while taking the pill. The same is true for women who conceived just after coming off the pill, or after taking emergency contraception. So, your baby won't come to any harm if you get pregnant straight away after you stop the pill.

I missed my pill… What should I do???

Missed one pill less than 24 hours,
Take the last pill you missed now even if it means taking two pills in one day
Continue taking the rest of the pack as usual
No additional contraception needed
Take your 7-day break (21-day pack) or 7 sugar pills (28-day pack) as normal

Missed two or more pills more than 48 hours,
Take the last pill you missed now even if it means taking two pills in one day
Leave any earlier missed pills
Continue taking the rest of the pack as usual and use an extra method of contraception for the next 7 days
You may need emergency contraception if you had unprotected sex in the previous 7 days. Please consult with your physician.
You may need to start the next pack of pills without a break, depending on the amount of pills you have left

•   Less than seven pills are left,  finish the pack and start new pack next day
• Seven or more pills are left after the last missed pill, finish the pack as usualbefore starting a new pack.

Missed one or more pills more than 48 hours in the first week of pack
If you had unprotected sex previous 7 days,  consult with your physician to get emergency contraceptive pill.

You may need to start the next pack of pills without a break, depending on the amount of pills you have left

•   Less than seven pills are left,  finish the pack and start new pack next day
• Seven or more pills are left after the last missed pill, finish the pack as usualbefore starting a new pack.

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 REFERENCE

http://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/estrogen-and-progestin-oral-contraceptives-oral-route/proper-use/drg-20069422

https://www.optionsforsexualhealth.org/birth-control-pregnancy/birth-control-options/hormonal-methods/combined-hormonal-contraceptives/using-pill

http://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-topics/birth-control/starting-pill-19264.htm

http://www.babycenter.com.my/x7095/we-want-to-get-pregnant-when-should-i-stop-taking-the-pill#ixzz2yhS4Qq7E