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Are you still protected if..

Ok im on birth control and I just wanted to ask how can you be protected from pregnacy while your on your reminder pills? (the week of your period.) My doctor said I am, but I just don’t understand doesn’t the pill only stay in your body for 24 hours? I know the most important thing is to not miss an active pill, if you do then you could get preg if you have intercourse without a condom, but I dont get it. im not on the active pills im on the reminder ones right now… the ones that don’t have hormons like the active pills..so my question is how are women still protected if they’re having sex while they are on their reminder pills? Thanks everyone! hope to have a few replys!

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Answer #1

The pill works (depending on what pill it is) by changing the way your body works, it stops ovulation… so you dont actually release an egg… The week that you take off is to allow your body to go through menstruation, you only take the pill so it continues to be a daily habit.

The hormones themselves arent stopping pregnancy, they’re changing the way your body works and that prevents pregnancy (if that makes sense?)

If you click on this link it will take you to birthcontrol pills, click on the one you’re using, and look up mechanism of action and it will tell you exactly how the pill prevents pregnancy (although really your doctor should have explained it to you)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birth_control_pills

Answer #2

The birth control protects you for more than 24 hours - my doctor told it takes ~3 months for all the birth control to be out of your body. The reminder pills are just there because women don’t need to be taking the active pills while on their period but it just keeps the routine of taking the pill everyday. No matter what though you need to be using condoms because birth control doesn’t protect you at all from STD’s.

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