Fewer mood swings throughout your cycle.Increasingly regular (and sometimes shortened) periods.4.) Positive Health BenefitsĪlthough you may not notice or fully reap the additional health benefits of birth control until you’ve made it past that three-month mark, you can expect a few extra perks once any negative effects have subsided. You only need to contact your doctor about irregular bleeding if it’s excessive or especially abnormal. Depending on which pill you’re taking, you may even skip menstruation during the first month or so altogether. It is also common that you may not start your period on the first day of your inactive pills but with one of the later pills during that week. It will take a few months for your period to develop a pattern, so there’s no need to worry if you’re spotting in between for the first few months. The reason we’ve singled out this side effect is because if it catches you off guard, it can be very alarming. Intermittent spotting and a small amount of irregular bleeding are very common in women who are first starting the birth control pill. Once your body is used to the birth control pill, and your hormone levels have regulated-usually after about three months-these effects should subside. Nausea (due to suddenly high levels of estrogen).2.) Minor Negative Side EffectsĪs your body reacts and adjusts to the increase and initial fluctuations in hormone levels that take place when you start the pill, it is not uncommon to experience any of the following side effects: If you’re starting on a progestin-only pill, you will be protected after 48 hours no matter where in your cycle you begin. If you begin mid-cycle, you’ll need to use backup for 7-14 days (depending on what your doctor recommends for that brand). There are two types of birth control pills-the combination pill, which contains estrogen and progestin, and the progestin-only or mini-pill.įor the combination pill, protection is immediate only if you start within five days of your period. 1.) Protection May Not Be Immediateĭepending on where you are in your cycle when you begin and the type of pill you’re taking, you may need to use a backup method of birth control when you start the pill. If you’re considering using the pill for the first time or are about to get started with your first pack, here are a few things you should expect within the next few months. Knowing what to expect when you start using the birth control pill is the best way to determine if it’s right for you and ensure you use it the right way. By providing safe, effective, and convenient protection against unwanted or unplanned pregnancy, the pill has given women more control over their own sex lives and reproductive health. The birth control pill is one of the greatest innovations in women’s health. Posted Februby south ave & filed under Birth Control. Birth Control for Beginners: 5 Things to Know Before You Start the Pill

Taking birth control 2 hours late