Due to COVID-19, I was unable to get my shot, so I switched to the pill. But the shot stopped my period so I don't know when I can start the pill.

By Emily @ Planned Parenthood | July 14, 2020, 2:19 p.m.

Category: Ask the Experts, Birth Control

Due to covid-19 I was unable to get my injection (depoprivera) updated, it was due 27th May, the doctors have now prescribed me with the pill, the injection stopped my period so I am unsure when I can start it or if I am just able to start it right away?

You can start the pill as soon as you want to since it’s been more than 3 months since your last Depo shot. But there’s an important thing to keep in mind: the pill doesn’t start working right away if you start it when you don’t have your period.

There are two types of birth control pills. The most common type is called “combination pills.” If you start taking combination pills within 5 days after your period starts, you’ll be protected from pregnancy right away. If you start combination pills any other time, you need to take the pill for 7 days before you’re protected from pregnancy. So use another method of birth control — like a condom — if you have penis-in-vagina sex during those first days on the pill. After that, as long as you take 1 pill every day, you’ll be protected from pregnancy.

The other type of pill is called “progestin-only.” Progestin-only pills start working pretty quickly — just 48 hours (2 days) after you start taking them. But with progestin-only pills, you need to be really on top of your schedule and remember to take them around the same time every day to be protected from pregnancy.

Not sure what kind you take? Ask your doctor or nurse.

Tags: birth control shot, pill, birthcontrol, Shot