How Are the Hormonal Contraceptive Pills Packaged?

You will receive a set of pills packaged in a thin case. Pill packs contain either 21 or 28 pills. Twenty-one-day pill packs contain 21 active pills. Twenty-eight day pill packs contain 21 active pills and seven inactive pills. The pill packs are marked with the days of the week to remind you to take a pill every day. The seven inactive pills in the 28-day pill pack are added so that you are reminded to start a new pill pack after 28 days.

A package of Seasonale contains 84 active pink tablets and seven inactive white pills.

How Do I Begin Hormonal Contraceptives?

Ask your doctor when you should start your HC. You must wait until your period begins to start taking the Pill. If you still have your period on the day that you have been told to start your pill pack, go ahead and start the pill pack. You will get your next period about 25 days after starting the pill pack.

It's best to take the pills at the same time every day. Take the pill each day either before breakfast or at bedtime.

Seasonale works similarly. You begin taking it the first Sunday after your period. If your period starts on a Sunday, start Seasonale that day. Then you take one of the active tablets a day for 84 consecutive days. This is followed with 7 days of placebo (inactive) pills.

When Do I Start Another Pill Pack?

You will start each new pill pack on the same day of the week that you initially started it. If you are on the 21-day pill pack, start the new pill pack seven days after you finished the old pill pack. If you are on the 28-day pill pack, begin the new pack after taking the last pill in the old pack.

Start your new pill pack as scheduled above, whether or not you get your period or are still having your period.

How Soon Does HC Work?

When taken as directed, HC is usually effective the first month you begin taking it. To be safe, some doctors recommend the use of another form of birth control, such as latex condoms (rubbers) and foam, during the first month. After the first month, you can just use HC for birth control.

What If I Forget to Take a Pill?

If you forget to take a pill, take it as soon as you remember. If you don't remember until the next day, go ahead and take 2 pills that day. If you forget to take your pills for 2 days, take 2 pills the day you remember and 2 pills the next day. You will then be back on schedule. If you miss more than 2 pills, call your doctor. You may be told to take one pill daily until Sunday then start a new pill pack or to discard the rest of the pill pack and start over with a new pack that same day.