After pregnancy do I have to wait for my period to start before I can start the pill again?
How soon you can start birth control pills after a pregnancy depends on whether you gave birth, had an abortion, or had a miscarriage. It also depends on what kind of pill you use.
If you’ve had an abortion or a miscarriage, you can start taking birth control pills right away.
If you’ve given birth, when you can start taking birth control pills depends on which kind of pill you’re taking. You can start taking progestin-only pills right away. If you’re going to be taking combination pills (the kind of pill most people take) you need to wait at least 3 weeks after giving birth to start your pills, depending on certain health factors. If you’re breastfeeding and taking combination pills, a small amount of the hormones will be in your breastmilk, but it’s unlikely these hormones will have any effect on your baby. If you’re worried about taking a combination pill while breastfeeding, talk with your doctor or nurse about your concerns.
If you’re still pregnant, it’s a good idea to talk with your doctor or nurse about creating a post-pregnancy birth control plan. That way you’re all ready to go after pregnancy, and won’t have any gaps in protection.
The staff at your nearest Planned Parenthood health center can walk you through all your post-pregnancy birth control options and help get you started on a method.
Tags: pregnancy, birth control pills, breastfeeding, post-partum_health