HELP i am confused...about my birth control.

I have been on Microgestin for about six months now and I am pretty happy with it. No side effects or anything. But I have a question about how it works. for seven days I take an iron placebo pill so that I can have my period. But how are you protected during those days? Becuase I dont get my period for three or four days into the iron placebos so I'm wondering if I can get pregnant on those days. I mean technically i'm not taking my pill.

So does the stuff just build up in your system and protect you all month? I just don't get it. Does anyone understand? Thanks in advance!

You are protected for every single day. Don't worry about it.

No knock on you, but your doctor should have explained how and why it works. 

Yes, the buildup of hormones from the previous 3 weeks protects you. That is why it's important not to miss pills during your active weeks. Not only does it put you at risk for those days but for the rest of the month as well.

It's because the active pills block you from ovulating, even when you are taking the iron pills. No egg, no pregnancy.

It's as the others said, it's not a one day of pill = one day of protection kind of thing. That's why when you miss a pill you have to use condoms while you finish the rest of the pack (including the iron pills), not just on the day you missed.

Though a truly smart young person goes double dutch anyway (pill plus condom every time): that's what we in the family planning biz call it, because the dutch routinely use this combination of methods and have the lowest unplanned pregnancy and STD rates in the WORLD to show for it!

Thanks for all the replies! That makes more sense now! And trustwomen, unfortunatley my husband has a huge aversion to condoms, lol. We have been over it and over it... :-)

Original Post by jessie7676:

Thanks for all the replies! That makes more sense now! And trustwomen, unfortunatley my husband has a huge aversion to condoms, lol. We have been over it and over it... :-)

Well, if you are both monogamous and if you don't miss a pill, you should be OK... but if you do miss a pill and keep having sex without a condom, pregnancy becomes more of a possibility... forewarned is forearmed. Ask him how he feels about "condom for the rest of the month" vs. "having to consider an abortion". He will likely make sure you take the pill in front of him every night. ;)

Original Post by bexxeb:

It's because the active pills block you from ovulating, even when you are taking the iron pills. No egg, no pregnancy.

 This.  Hormones don't "build up" in your system - it changes your menstrual cycle so that you do not ovulate.  Oral contraception sort of tricks your system into thinking you're already pregnant.

Original Post by jewelsmcblah:

No knock on you, but your doctor should have explained how and why it works. 

 rly?? I dont know about you but where I am, doctors dont give a .... about you

Original Post by charleneraymond:

Original Post by jewelsmcblah:

No knock on you, but your doctor should have explained how and why it works. 

 rly?? I dont know about you but where I am, doctors dont give a .... about you

 That is truly unfortunate.  :(