As experts in obstetrics and gynecology, Atlanta Women's Specialists believes that an informed patient is an empowered patient. So we have made patient education a top priority. Look here for your guide to the most accurate information available on- and offline.

How to Take the Pill

Important points to remember
Be sure to read these directions before you start taking your pills and anytime you are not sure what to do.

1. The right way to take the pill is to take one pill every day at the same time. If you miss pills you could get pregnant. This includes starting a pack late. The more pills you miss, the more likely you are to get pregnant.

2. Many women have spotting or light bleeding, or may feel sick to their stomach, during the first one to three packs of pills. If you do feel sick to your stomach, do not stop taking the pill. The problem will usually go away. If it doesn't go away, call our office.

3. Missing pills can also cause spotting or light bleeding even when you make up missed pills. On the days you take two pills to make up the missed pills, you may also feel a little sick to your stomach.

4. If you have vomiting or diarrhea, for any reason, or if you take some medications including some antibiotics, your pills may not work as well. Use a backup method (such as condoms or foam) until you check with your doctor.

5. If you have any questions or are unsure about the information in this article, call our office.

Before you start taking your pills

1. Decide what time of day you want to take your pills. It is important to take them at about the same time every day.

2. Look at your pill pack to see if it has 21 or 28 pills. The 28 pill pack has 21 active pills (in most types of pills) with hormones to take for three weeks, followed by 1 week of reminder pills without hormones. The 21 pill pack does not have the reminder pills and you must remember to skip one week at the end of the 21 day pill pack.

Also find:

  • Where on the pack to start taking pills
  • In what order to take the pills
  • The week numbers

Be sure you have ready at all times another kind of birth control such as condoms or foam to use as a backup in case you miss pills.

When to start the first pack of pills

You must choose a start day to begin taking your first pack of pills. You and your practitioner will decide which method is best for you.

Day 1 Start

1. Take the first "active" pill of the first pack during the first 24 hours of your period.

2. You will need to use a backup method of birth control for two weeks. This may be different from the information printed inside the pill pack. We have chosen to be very conservative in this regard, hopefully reducing the risk of unplanned pregnancy.

Sunday Start

1. Take the first "active" pill of the first pack on the Sunday after your period starts, even if you are still bleeding. If your period starts on Sunday, start the pack that same day.

2. Use another method of birth control as a backup method if you have sex any time from the Sunday you start the first pack until 2 weeks have passed. This may be different from the information printed inside the pill pack. We have chosen to be very conservative in this regard, hopefully reducing the risk of unplanned pregnancy. Condoms or foam are good backup methods of birth control.

What to do during the month

1. Take one pill at the same time every day until the pill pack is empty. Do not skip pills even if you are spotting or bleeding between monthly periods or feel sick to your stomach (nausea). Do not skip pills even if you do not have sex very often.

2. When you finish a pack or switch your brand of pills:
• 21-pill pack: Wait 7 days to start the next pack. You will probably have your period during that week. Be sure that no more than 7 days pass between 21 days packs (hence, 7 days between taking "active pills").
• 28-day pack: Start the next pack on the day after your last "reminder" pill. Do not wait any days between packs.

What to do if you miss pills

If you miss one active pill:

1. Take it as soon as you remember. Take the next pill at your regular time. This means you may take two pills in one day. You do not have to use backup contraception if you have sex.

If you miss two or more active pills in a row:

1. Take two pills on the day you remember and two pills the next day. Do not take the two pills at the same time because that may cause nausea. Continue this pattern until you catch up again (you will know you have caught up when the pill you take is correctly labeled as the current day of the week.)

2. Take one pill a day until you finish the pack.

3. You may become pregnant if you have sex after you miss pills. You must use another form of birth control such as condoms or foam as backup for the rest of the pack. This may be different from the information printed inside the pill pack. We have chosen to be very conservative in this regard, hopefully reducing the risk of unplanned pregnancy.

4. If several pills have been missed, there is an alternative method for compensating for missed pills: You may stop the pills at that time and restart on Sunday. You have effectively restarted your birth control pills and the recommendations given for starting your first pack of pills (especially for using a backup method of birth control for two weeks) apply.

Important Message:
If you are not sure what to do about pills you have missed, use a back-up method of birth control any time you have sex and keep taking one pill a day until you can speak to someone in our office.

Our telephone numbers are:

  • Meridian Mark Location: 404-252-5196, or
  • Alpharetta Location: 770-667-7440