Starting the first pack of pills
The combined oral contraceptive pill (the pill) can be started at any time in your menstrual cycle.
It is usually started on the first day of your period (day one of your menstrual cycle). In this case, you will be protected from pregnancy straight away and will not need additional contraception.
If you start the pill up to and including the fifth day of your period, you will still be protected from pregnancy straight away, unless you have a short menstrual cycle (your period is every 23 days or less). If you have a short menstrual cycle, you will need additional contraception, such as condoms, until you have taken the pill for seven days.
If you start the pill on any other day of your cycle, you will not be protected from pregnancy straight away and will need additional contraception until you have taken the pill for seven days.
After having a baby
If you have just had a baby and are not breastfeeding, the pill can be started on day 21 after the birth. You will be protected against pregnancy straight away.
If you start the pill later than 21 days after giving birth, you will need to use additional contraception (such as condoms) for the next seven days.
If you are breastfeeding a baby under six months old, taking the pill can reduce your flow of milk. It is recommended that you use a different method of contraception until you stop breastfeeding.
After a miscarriage or abortion
If you have had a miscarriage or abortion, the pill can be started up to seven days after this and you will be protected from pregnancy straight away. If started more than seven days after the miscarriage or abortion, use additional contraception until you have taken the pill for seven days.
How to take the pill
21-day pills
- Take your first pill from the packet marked with the correct day of the week, or the first pill of the first colour (phasic pills).
- Continue to take a pill at the same time each day until the pack is finished.
- Stop taking pills for seven days (during these seven days you will get a bleed).
- Start your next pack of pills on the eighth day, whether you are still bleeding or not. This should be the same day of the week as when you took your first pill.
Every day pills
- Take the first pill from the section of the packet marked ‘start’. This will be an active pill.
- Continue to take a pill every day, in the correct order and preferably at the same time each day, until the pack is finished (28 days).
- During the seven days of taking the inactive pills, you will get a bleed.
- Start your next pack of pills after you have finished the first, whether you are still bleeding or not.
Taking pill packs back to back
For monophasic combined pills (pills all the same colour and with the same level of hormones), it is normally fine to start a new pack of pills straight after your last one, for example if you want to delay your period for a holiday.
However, avoid taking more than two packs together unless advised to by your GP. This is because the womb lining continues to build up and you may have breakthrough bleeding as it sheds slightly. Also, some women find they feel very bloated if they run several packs of the pill together.
