Why do you need to take sugar pills for 7 days when you're on birth control? - Birth Control Message Board

hollandlop · 03-20-2006, 04:15 PM

The doctor told me that every month I need to take 7 days of sugar pills to let my period begin when I'm on birth control. That's a little confusing. How come I can't just take the regular pills all the way? And if I'm bleeding, then it's not safe against birth control right?

sunnydaze1 · 03-20-2006, 04:23 PM

The 3 weeks on of the birth control pill/ one week of sugar pills is just to keep you in the habit of taking the pill all month long. If you start a new pack of pills without waiting that week or taking the sugar pills, you probably won't have a period. I always used to just toss the sugar pills out and start the new pills the following Sunday AFTER my period had started.

As far as pregnancy, if this is your first month on the pill, I'd wait another cycle before having unproted sex. Chances are it's fine, but I was always told to wait 2 cycles.

If your still unsure, I'd call your doctor's office and ask to talk to the nurse...she can explain it better to you.

djl · 03-20-2006, 04:26 PM

You have 3 weeks of active pills then the 7 days of the sugar pills(non active pills) is during your menstral cycle. The reason why you take these pills is so you dont get out of context for taking a pill every day.
If you continued taking the active pills during the week of the non active pills, you will not get a period.
Some people dont even take the sugar non active pill during that week. They just wait till they have to start there new monthly pack on that sunday and start taking the actuive pills.
Which pill did your doc put you on??

hollandlop · 03-20-2006, 05:11 PM

She gave me Alesse 28 tablets per pack. So the sugar pills not are necessary? What if someone just keeps taking the regular pills without stopping? Then that person will never get their period?

djl · 03-20-2006, 05:38 PM

supoosedly, no you dont get a period, but you can spot and you can have bleeding in between. I know it usualy depends on the person. How your body reacts.
I did the pill continuesly without the sugar pill and just kept taking the active pills and I did not have a period. I did it for a couple of months due to cyst problems. I know the BC Pill: Seasonale only give you 4 periods a year.

I would not take your pill continuesly unless directed by your doctor.