Family Planning Plus

What you read is correct. While it is important to take all your pills correctly & consistently, the first 7 days of the pill pack are the most important. This is true for EVERY pill pack, EVERY month.

Pill packs are designed so that you take 21 consecutive days of hormone (active) pills, followed by 7 consecutive days of hormone free (inactive) pills. Most pills follow a 21/7 day design, but some newer brands follow a 24/4 design. During the inactive pills, you are having a withdrawal bleed (your body bleeds because it is withdrawing from having daily hormones) or “period”. This should be the least fertile time in your cycle. If pills have been taken correctly, protection is usually continues to be effective during this week. However, if the estrogen and progestin are not replaced back into the body within those days directly after a period, normal ovarian function takes over. Ripening of an ovarian follicle may take place, and ovulation may occur. If you miss or are late with any of the pills during the first active week, it is best to use a condom or abstain  for the rest of the pill pack. Certainly, if you only took 4 out of the first 7 pills, your protection will be compromised.   

Plan B would be a good option. Plan B helps prevent pregnancy by delaying ovulation. It is available for purchase over the counter to women 17 and older. Women under 17 require a prescription. If you take Plan B, continue to take your birth control pills, picking up where you left off. You may experience some irregular bleeding or spotting over the next month. Your next period may be a little earlier or later than usual. Your period may be lighter, heavier or spottier than usual. If you continue your pills, your period should return to normal within a month or two. If your next period is more than 1 week late, do a pregnancy test.