If I stop taking my birth control pill during the quarantine, is it safe to use my unused packs later when I want to start again?

By Kendall @ Planned Parenthood | April 10, 2020, 5 p.m.

Category: Ask the Experts, Birth Control

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I already have 2 packs of birth control for the next 2 months, but I am planning to stop using birth control during the quarantine. When I want to start again, is it okay to use those 2 unused packs? And what effect of stopping and starting birth control have on my body.

Yup! You can totally save those unused packs of birth control and take them at a later time when you decide to start using the pill again — just make sure that the packs are full (no missing pills) and they’re not expired when you want to take them again (check the expiration date on the wrapper).

It’s important to remember that once you stop taking the pill, you can get pregnant right away — even if your period isn’t regular or you have other side effects. So if you do have vaginal sex during the time you’re off the pill and you don’t want to get pregnant, make sure to use another method of birth control (like condoms).

It’s not dangerous or harmful to go on and off the pill. But any time there’s a change in your hormones, there’s a chance of temporary side effects, like changes to your period. These usually go away after a few months, and eventually your body will go back to the way it was before you went on the pill. And if you start taking the pill again later, you’ll probably have the same experience you had when you went on it the first time — so if you had side effects the first time around, you might get those again for a little while.

Everyone’s body is different, so there’s no way to know exactly how your body will react. If you’re really worried about the side effects of going on and off the pill, talk with your nurse or doctor. They may be able to give you more specific information about what to expect based on your personal medical history.

Tags: birthcontrol