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Missing birth control pills and bleeding...

By May 18, 2010 - 5:01am
 
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If you miss 3 pills in your first active week, what does mean if you start bleeding? And bleed for a few days. Does this count as a period? Can you ovulate during that time? I had unprotected sex while bleeding after missing a few pills and wondering what the chances are of becoming pregnant....

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The last time I had unprotected sex after missing my pills was Sun. May 9th. Do I need to wait til Sun. May 23 before I can test?

May 21, 2010 - 5:13pm

Its already been more than 120hrs. I am supposed to start my period next Wednesday, the 26th. Would Friday, the 21st, be the soonest I can test?

May 20, 2010 - 7:30am

Anytime you miss pills you have an increased risk of becoming pregnant.

The bleeding that occurs after you miss so many pills in-a-row is called "withdrawal bleeding", as your body is literally withdrawing from the lack of hormones from the pills. This is the same thing that happens the week of inactive pills (when you get your "period"). It is not harmful, but would not count as a "period" if you are counting on that as a indicator of not being pregnant. You will need to wait at least 2 weeks after unprotected sex to know if you are pregnant or not (it can take that long to actually become pregnant, as it takes a while for the egg to be fertilized, travel from fallopian tube to uterus, and then implant).

You may ovulate at any time that you miss pills, and is the reason that your risk of pregnancy increases. When you take the pill consistently and correctly, it works to prevent ovulation, so by stopping the pill, your body may begin the process of ovulation.

No one can tell you what your chances of becoming pregnant are, unfortunately. The first week is the worst week to miss pills (I am so sorry to tell you that!), since you have been without any active (hormone-containing) pills for a long amount of time (the previous week was your inactive pill week).

Can you let us know when your next menstrual period begins, or if you take a home pregnancy test?

Do you know about emergency contraception, that you can take within 120 hours after unprotected sex, to decrease the chances of pregnancy?

May 18, 2010 - 1:53pm
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