I've been on the pill since 05/97 and stopped taking the active pills before my last period (first day of last period 10/23/06) because of a lapse in insurance coverage. I was due for a period this past Monday/Tuesday and it has still not arrived. On Wednesday I took a home pregnancy test and it came back negative. I have insurance and a prescription now but do I need to wait until I get a period before I can start taking my birth control again? Could I still be pregnant and the home test be faulty?

Thanks,
Kelly

I've been on the pill since 05/97 and stopped taking the active pills before my last period (first day of last period 10/23/06) because of a lapse in insurance coverage. I was due for a period this past Monday/Tuesday and it has still not arrived. On Wednesday I took a home pregnancy test and it came back negative. I have insurance and a prescription now but do I need to wait until I get a period before I can start taking my birth control again? Could I still be pregnant and the home test be faulty?

Thanks,
Kelly


It's normal for your periods to be irregular when stopping the pill.
As for when to start the pill again, it is really best to wait until you have your period, which is when the hormones are at their lowest. You can start the pill earlier, but you're more likely to experience break-through bleeding.