Can you get pregnant on the red birth control pills?

Yes. Although birth control pills have a high success rate, they can fail and you can get pregnant while on the pill. Certain factors increase your risk of getting pregnant, even if you’re on birth control. Keep these factors in mind if you’re sexually active and want to prevent an unplanned pregnancy.

What happens if I don’t take the red pills in birth control?

Skipping the non-hormonal birth control pills (aka placebo pills, “sugar” pills, or reminder pills) in your pill pack won’t cause any side effects. The non-hormonal pills are just there to help you remember to take your pill every day and start your next pack on time.

What do the colors of birth control pills mean?

Why Birth Control Pills Come in Different Colors The primary reason birth control pills often come in different colors is that color-coding makes it easier for users to see which pills contain active hormone and which are placebos.

Do the brown birth control pills make you start your period?

You should get your period sometime during your week off. You may also choose to skip the brown pills altogether and start a new packet straight away. You will not get a period that month if you choose this option. It is not recommended to skip more than two consecutive cycles of brown pills.

Can I skip the placebo pills?

Yup, it’s totally fine to skip the non-hormonal pills (aka placebo pills or reminder pills) in your pill pack. The non-hormonal pills are just there to help you remember to take your pill every day and start your next pack on time.

How many red pills should I take before my period?

In general, about 3 days after finishing all of the 21 active tablets in a 28 pill pack, most women will start their period. If you use a 28-pill pack, you’ll get your period during the week you take the reminder pills. If you use a 21-day pill pack, you’ll still get your period the week you do not take any pills.

Why is there a 7 day break on the pill?

The 7-day break was invented when the contraceptive pill was created as they thought that women would want to have a bleed every month. The bleed you get when you stop the pill is not a “real period”: it is just a withdrawal from the hormones in the pill and it is not biologically necessary.