When to Start Birth Control Pills After Finishing Period
She can start her birth control pill pack immediately—today—and will need backup contraception (condoms) or abstinence for 7 days if starting combined oral contraceptives, or 2 days if starting progestin-only pills. 1, 2
Timing Based on Type of Birth Control Pill
Combined Oral Contraceptives (COCs)
- Can be started at any time if it is reasonably certain she is not pregnant 2
- Since she finished her period 2 days ago, she is beyond day 5 of her menstrual cycle 2
- Requires backup contraception (condoms) or abstinence for 7 consecutive days after starting the pills 2
- If she had started within the first 5 days of menstrual bleeding, no backup contraception would have been needed 2
Progestin-Only Pills (POPs)
- Can also be started at any time if it is reasonably certain she is not pregnant 1, 3
- Requires backup contraception (condoms) or abstinence for only 2 days after starting 1, 3
- This shorter backup period reflects the different mechanism of action compared to combined pills 3
- Must be taken at approximately the same time each day (within 3 hours) for maximum effectiveness 3
Key Clinical Considerations
The "Quick Start" approach is evidence-based and recommended:
- Starting pills immediately at the clinic visit improves short-term continuation rates compared to waiting for the next period 4, 5
- Pregnancy rates do not differ based on timing of contraceptive initiation during the menstrual cycle 2
- Delaying contraception may decrease adherence 6
- 81% of women find immediate initiation acceptable or preferable to waiting 4
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
Failing to use backup contraception appropriately:
- The most critical error is not using backup contraception for the full 7 days (COCs) or 2 days (POPs) when starting after day 5 of the cycle 2
- For progestin-only pills specifically, if a pill is taken more than 3 hours late at any time, backup contraception is needed for the next 2 days 3
Unnecessarily waiting for the next period: