Family Planning Plus

I am assuming you are using a hormonal type of birth control (pill, patch, ring).

As long as you’ve been taking your pills (or using your patches or ring) as directed (taking a pill around the same time every day, one patch per week for three weeks then one week off, ring left in for three week then taken out for one) and as long as it’s been over one week since you started your method, you are protected. You remain protected as long as you are using your method correctly (regardless of whether it’s your period week or not). During the first three weeks of your method use, hormones build up in your body to provide contraceptive protection through the seven days of your period week. Just don’t forget to start a new pack, put on a new patch, or insert a new ring the very next day after you’ve finished the seven days that you are off the hormones.