Question about birth control

[Pandora23456]

Is the affectiveness better if you take it at the exact same time on the dot everyday or around the same time everyday, maybe a couple of minutes or so, maybe an hour?

What is a better time to take it?

 

[dollface007]

I'm not sure about the difference between a few minutes and an hour. I would imagine that "perfect use" (meaning, lab setting) means the exact same time every day. Perfect use effectiveness is always higher than typical use effectiveness. i was told i should shoot for the same time every day within an hour.

I take mine every morning with my vitamins b/c i've tried to make a routine out of it. It's something that I'm sure to do every day. I've heard the suggestion to take it when you brush your teeth for the same reason. I used to take my pill at night, but the routine would get screwed up when i went out on the weekends.

 

[Pandora23456]

I ask because I take it every morning during the week at the same time maybe a few minutes difference but on the weekends I don't have to get up as early so its an hour or a bit more off than from the time I take it durig the week.

 

[Emerald Eyed]

It is best to take it as close to the same time of day as possible.

 

[intelligencenazi]

Personally, I wouldn't worry a whole lot of you're occasionally an hour off. I mean - the instructions for mine (I take Yasmin and Orthitricyclen said the same when I was taking it) say that if you miss a pill just take it with your next one and you don't have to use a back-up method of birth control. But you do if you miss two. Point being that it's best to take it as close to the same time every day as possible, but a slight difference shouldn't result in a pregnancy.

 

[Cathleen]

I found this info by a google search on the half life of bc pills.

Most combination birth control pills (the kind prescribed for the overwhelming majority of women) remain effective even if you miss a dose by several hours. You may experience more breakthrough bleeding, however, if you take your pills erratically. Progestin-only pills like Micronor and Nor-QD give you less leeway and should be taken within one to two hours of your normal time.

The first few pills in the pack are the most important ones to take on time. These pills, taken before the middle of your cycle, do the most to prevent pregnancy by altering cervical mucus and preventing ovulation. Pills in the last half are less critical. If you want to maximize the effectiveness and minimize annoying spotting, you should take your pills at roughly the same time every day.