I’m going to start taking birth control. I know that you have to take it on a daily basis in order to effectively prevent pregnancy, but does it have to be taken at a specific time each day?
It depends on what kind of pill you are taking. It if is a progestin-only pill, you need to take it at the same time each day. You could get pregnant if it is taken only three hours late.
Combined hormone pills — those with estrogen and progestin — are more forgiving. Just as long as you take it every day, it doesn’t really matter what time of day you do.
The important thing about the bill is to remember to take it every day. So pick a time of day that is easy to remember. You might find it helpful to take it when you do something else that you do at about the same time every day — like brushing your teeth, eating dinner, getting up in the morning, or going to bed. Many women set an alarm on their cell phones or watches.
Tags: the pill