When’s the best time to start taking the pill?

If you’ve decided you want to use the pill, the “best time” is whenever you want. As soon as you get the pills—and you you’re not pregnant—you can start. You don’t have to wait until Sunday, and you don’t have to wait until your next period.

Your pills will be effective at preventing pregnancy right away if: * it’s been less than 5 days since the first day of your period, * you’re switching from another hormonal method of birth control (and you’ve been using it consistently, * it’s been less than 7 days since a first or second-trimester pregnancy ended, or * you gave birth in the last 21 days.

If none of those things apply, the pill won’t be effective at preventing pregnancy until you’ve taken it 7 days in a row. So, if you have sex you’ll need a back-up method, like condoms or internal condoms.

Still not working?

Want a birth control method that works right away, no matter what? Three IUDs—the non-hormonal, copper IUD (Paragard), and two hormonal IUDs (Mirena and Liletta)—work as EC so they never need a backup method after starting.