How long does it take for The Pill to Start Working?

[PitBullGirl]

ok i read all the posts i could stomach about birth control and "the pill" and i'm still ignorant here.... i even talked to one of my know it all friends.. she said it takes three months for the pill to take effect and then someone said that three months is B.S... i'm confused!
it probably depends on the brand and dosage i'm sure, so which is best?
and um... i saw someone say they took the pill for cramps? that part got my attention! what does it do? ease the pain or make them go away? if it does then thats good for me because i get killer cramps during that time.

Also, what are some other good alternatives that you have tried out.. besides condoms? i know theres a shot and implants, but the thought of implants kind of scares me. I read about side effects from the shot and the pill, they dont sound pleasant at all!
ok so anyway, theres my questions, please be nice and dont call me ignorant just because i dont know about this stuff. at least i'm asking.

[super_chevy2000]

I took the pill for 6 months. You have to wait one month (or finish out one 30 day supply) after you take the first pill (not missing one before it's completely safe) not 3 months. If you forget to take a pill one day you need to use a condom as well for another month because that's how long it takes to regulate your hormones. The pill needs to be taken at almost exactly the same time every day or within 30 minutes of that time. Most of my friends have lighter periods and no cramping on birth control. My bleeding went a little bit heavier on it and my cycle lasted 2 extra days each month but the pills reduced my cramps. The whole time I was on the pill I used Spermicide also for a little extra protection. I hope this helped you out.

[Sparklies]

Well, I took birth control for about 8 months so that I could take another medication which they wouldn't give to me unless I was on the pill. So, I had to be on it for ONE month before they could give me the other meds. So, yep, it only takes 1 month of taking it regularly for it to become effective.

As far as the relief of cramps and stuff goes I dunno why it happens, but it does. The symptoms of PMS are reduced, except for the fact that your boobs can be tender just about all the time, I dunno why! Also, your period is usually lighter and lasts for a shorter period of time. The only real downside I found to being on the pill is that I gained a little weight because it increases the amount of water your body retains, but not too much, maybe 5 pounds, but now that I am off of it everything seems to be back to normal. Anyway, I would really just stick to the traditional pill, I too have heard really weird things happening with the other stuff, and the implant does sound rather eh...creepy. Best of luck to you! :mrgreen:

[ChannyJB7]

i don't know about bc lessening cramps....b4 i went on it (to regulate my periods cuz they used to be really bad) i hardly ever had cramps..but after.... :redface: it was so horrible !! but then it could have just been a coincedence (<- i dunno if its spelt rite)...ne ways just my 2 cents..

[Pudding]

okay.. two people whov posted about pills before me are weird!

well my pills.. ive been on it for about 6 months now.. and u start to take it on the first day of your period, and ur protected from day one. if u take it during non-bleeding time, u have to take it for a week before you're protected. and u have 12 hrs to take it.. so if u normally take ur pill at 6pm, then and u forget till 9pm, its okay, u can stil take it then and be protected because u have till 6am the next day to take it.

umm thats about it..
i dunno sounds heaps diff from other people's ones.

[Deidre]

Judging from how different the answers to these questions are from person to person, every single time, may I make the bold suggestion that you call a clinic and ask someone about it, and make brand-specific questions etc.?

[PitBullGirl]

i probably SHOULD talk to a clinic about this stuff....
my problem is that i still live at home, would have to ask my mom for a ride up there and bla bla bla. i dont believe she would be upset or anything, but its just something i dont think my should know about. not that i'm hiding anything, its just one of those private matters to me. Like i dont want my mom to know i'm sexually active.. or rather WILL be.. although its weird as hell how i can talk to complete strangers about it!!
but then i'm sure some of you might know what i mean.
anyway, going by what i've read here, and other places, the weight gain part isnt so bad... my mom tells me i'm underweight, and everyone who sees me says i look thinner.... so anyway, no worries in the weight department, because i probably need to gain some anyway. also with the period, mine always ends like a day or two early, so no worries there, and i would do almost anything to get rid of the cramps.....
This all seems like added bennifits rather than drawbacks. Seems it has more uses than simple "birth control"!
BUT i read somewhere that it causes acne or makes your hair fall out... that i didnt like! I also heard it causes depression? but that may have been some other type of B.C., maybe the shot...
anyway, yeah i need to talk to a clinic about this. i hate that i get different answers all around, though its no ones fault. maybe it depends on the person who uses it?
ok thanks for the info here. really helped me out. :)

[Tootsie Pop]

Maybe she meant this:

After one month the pill is 97% effective. After 3 months it is 99% effective. Could that be what your friend meant? :-?

[PitBullGirl]

i dont know. thing about this friend... i wasnt kidding when i called her a know it all. the way she talked it was like ALL kinds of BC take three months. i just stopped talking to her about it because she's been known to be full of BS. thats why i came here for advice.
anyhoo, i talked to my mom about it, she gave me a big lecture on how theres more to sex than just ... sex. haha parents...
But, i'm planning on talking to my doctor soon. so thank you again.

[Barefoot Matt]

It doesn't cause acne, it prevents it. I've never heard anything about hair falling out.

Pudding's partially right. If you start during your period, you're fine, but if you start outside of your period, you should wait until after the next period, not just one week.

LOL @ your mom's sex lecture... I know how that is.

Good for you that you're going to talk to your doctor. It seems that lots of people here overlook that simple solution :roll:

[kuju]

Always talk to the doctor who prescribed them... but the pill is NEVER effe3ctive from day one. the SHOT is... the pill NEVER is. Generally, one month and you're safe. I've heard three months before, but I find it difficult to believe.