Hello. I missed a few bc pills(5) all together. Now I'm spotting and i thought i got my period but it seemed to be heavier spotting. Could i be pregnant?

Hello Anonymous,
Did you miss five birth control pills in a row? Did you miss the doses at the beginning of your pack?

•If pills are missed, the chance that pregnancy will occur depends not only on how many pills were missed, but also on when those pills were missed. A simple rule to follow is: never take fewer than 21 consecutive active pills and never have more than 7 consecutive pill-free days between active pill taking periods.

•The risk of pregnancy is greatest when active (hormonal) pills are missed at the beginning or at the end of the active pills, i.e. when the hormone-free interval is extended.

The spotting may be your body's response to the hormonal fluctuation caused when you missed five doses of birth control.

Having unprotected sex during the period of missed pills can increase your risk of getting pregnant.

During pregnancy, hCG is a hormone that is produced. A pregnancy test checks for hCG levels. Levels can be detected in urine about 12 to 14 days following conception. Considering the days when you missed taking your pills and had unprotected sex, calculate ahead two weeks and test.

Maryann