When you stop using the birth control pill but you don't get a period for several months, you may have what's known as post-pill amenorrhea. The pill prevents your body from making hormones involved in ovulation and menstruation. When you stop taking the pill, it can take some time for your body to return to normal production of these hormones. Typically, your period should start again within three months after you stop taking the pill.

Pregnancy can occur from intercourse that takes place during a period. This is because sperm can live in the body for up to five days, and if a woman ovulates soon after her period, then conception could take place from intercourse that occurred during her period.

There may be some delay in becoming pregnant after you stop taking the pill, especially if you had irregular menstrual periods before you started using the pill. Your doctor may recommend that you delay becoming pregnant until you have had one or more regular periods. There does not appear to be any birth defects in newborn babies when pregnancy occurs soon after stopping the pill. Probably not.

The birth control pill is very effective if taken properly, with a typical user failure rate of three percent per year. In order for the Pill to be most effective it should be taken at the same time every day. It is also important to remember that the birth control pill will only prevent pregnancies and not protect from sexually transmitted infections. A condom and a birth control pill are the most effective means of preventing unwanted pregnancies and harmful sexually transmitted infections.

This can be one of the first symptoms which can appear as early as one week after conception and then throughout pregnancy. You may see this symptom six to eight weeks after conception and it will be with you for your entire pregnancy. This is caused by hormone changes and growing pressure on the bladder. This usually shows up two to ten weeks after conception. The degree in which you feel sick varies from none to vomiting.

Current low dose birth control pills are very safe for most women. It is very unlikely skipping the period or the pill free week would change the safety of the pill. Birth control pills have been used by millions of women over the past 40 years. The first birth control pills contained about 10,000 mcg of progestin and 150 mcg of estrogen. The pills being recommended for every day or continuous use have only 100 to 1000 mcg of progestin and 20 mcg of estrogen.

Most commonly, you should start the first Sunday after your period begins, or if the period starts on Sunday, take the first pill that day (this may help prevent periods on weekends). ^ Contraceptive FAQ | ^ Top

Pregnant women can have some light irregular bleeding during pregnancy, but it should not be like a “normal” period. Some women can confuse this for their period because often it can come right around the time she was expecting her normal period. The irregular bleeding or spotting that can occur during pregnancy is often a dark brown color or a light pinkish. It should not be enough bleeding to fill pads or tampons over a few days.

A woman can get pregnant any time of the month, even during her period. It’s not the most likely time, but it can happen.

If you are concerned about possible pregnancy you can go directly to the OU Health Services Women's Center and request a pregnancy test. Results are available within a short time. ^ Women's Center FAQ | ^ Top

Yes, if your cycles were 26-32 days long before you started taking pills. If you are still taking pills and want to use CycleBeads, you should finish taking the pills for this current cycle. Then, on the first day of your next period, you can begin using the method. If you have already stopped taking pills, you should wait until your next period starts before you start using the method.

Yes, very much so. They can help reduce your menstrual cramps, regulate irregular periods, and make your menstrual flow lighter. The pill is also known to decrease the risk of ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer, ovarian cysys, breast cysts, and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). They will also help with acne.

No. Originally Merck decided to err on the side of caution and warned against the possible problem of Finasteride transfer in semen. This warning has since been removed. At issue is the theoretical danger that there could be genital birth defects in the male fetus. This is one reason Finasteride tablets are coated, and women who are or could get pregnant should avoid Finasteride ingestion and the handling of broken Finasteride tablets.

You should take a daily multivitamin with at least 400 micrograms (0.4 milligrams) of folic acid. Back to top

I'm a nursing mom and I'm on the progestin-only pill. It's really difficult for me to take the pill at the same time each day because I have to work around the baby's schedule.

None of these methods of birth control have any long-term effects on fertility. However, sometimes periods can be delayed after stopping the pill or the Depo-Provera.

Since the absorption through the fingertips can't be measured, the FDA considers it all to be absorbed, regardless of how infinitesimal the absorption actually is. If there were really a concern the FDA would require men, taking Propecia to wear condoms when their wife is pregnant, but they do not even recommend this.