How to take oral contraceptive medication

Content provided by Healthwise

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.
For Seasonale, 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. If you have breakthrough bleeding during the 3 months, your health professional will prescribe extra estrogen. Seasonique meets this need by using low-dose estrogen pills instead of the 7 days of sugar pills.

If you prefer, you can use a weekly hormone skin patch or monthly vaginal ring instead of daily pills.

Credits

Author	Kathe Gallagher, MSW
Editor	Kathleen M. Ariss, MS
Associate Editor	Pat Truman
Primary Medical Reviewer	Renée M. Crichlow, MD - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer	Kirtly Jones, MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology
Last Updated	January 30, 2007

Last updated:	January 30, 2007
Author:	Kathe Gallagher, MSW
Reviewed By:	Renée M. Crichlow, MD - Family Medicine, Kirtly Jones, MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology
Editors:	Kathleen M. Ariss, MS, Pat Truman

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