When does birth control become effective?

Answer 1

Here is information on various methods of Birth Control and when they become effective. Of course, using a back up method like condoms helps to further reduce the risk of pregnancy, as well as reducing the risk of infection.

You can confirm this information by checking the FDA insert that came with your method, or the prescribers' information regulated by the FDA. These are evidence-based guidelines that are the standard of care in the US.

If you have trouble using the method as prescribed (e.g. forgetting pills, taking out the NuvaRing mid cycle), you may need to use backup for much longer, as you increase the risk of pregnancy by not using the method correctly.

Here are the guidelines used by professionals in family planning. These represent the standards of care in use in the US at this time. This material is not copyrighted nor copied from another website, but can be confirmed by consulting Contraceptive Technology, FDA inserts for the various methods, or other high-quality gynecology references.

Combination Birth Control Pill, Patch, Ring, Contraceptive Implant (Nexplanon) If started within the first five days of menstrual bleeding, no back up method is needed - it's immediately effective. If started at any other time in the menstrual cycle, use a back up method for seven days. If you're switching from the shot, implant, or another birth control pill, and you're not late in starting the new method, no backup is needed. If you're starting within five days of an in-clinic suction abortion, no backup is needed. If you're starting within seven days of mifepristone for medication abortion, no backup is needed. If you've taken ullipristal (ella) for emergency contraception, use backup for fourteen days.

Progestin-Only Birth Control Pill (Minipill) If started within the first five days of menstrual bleeding, no back up method is needed - it's immediately effective. If started at any other time in the menstrual cycle, use a back up method for two days. If you're switching from the shot, implant, or another birth control pill, and you're not late in starting the new method, no backup is needed. If you're starting within five days of an in-clinic suction abortion, no backup is needed. If you're starting within seven days of mifepristone for medication abortion, no backup is needed. If you've taken ullipristal (ella) for emergency contraception, use backup for fourteen days.

Depo Provera If started within the first seven days of menstrual bleeding, no back up method is needed - it's immediately effective. If started at any other time in the menstrual cycle, use a back up method for seven days. If you're switching from the shot, implant, or another birth control pill, and you're not late in starting the new method, no backup is needed. If you're starting within five days of an in-clinic suction abortion, no backup is needed. If you're starting within seven days of mifepristone for medication abortion, no backup is needed. If you're starting within 21 days of a delivery of a baby, no backup is needed.

Mirena IUD If started within the first seven days of menstrual bleeding, no back up method is needed - it's immediately effective. If started at any other time in the menstrual cycle, use a back up method for seven days. If you're switching from the shot, implant, or a birth control pill, continue the hormonal birth control method for seven days if you're not in the first five days of menstrual bleeding. If you're starting on the day of an in-clinic suction abortion, no backup is needed. If you've taken ullipristal (ella) for emergency contraception, use backup for fourteen days.

Paragard copper IUD If started within the first twelve days of menstrual bleeding, no back up method is needed - it's immediately effective. If started at any other time in the menstrual cycle, use a back up method for seven days. If you're switching from the shot, implant, or a birth control pill, continue the hormonal birth control method for seven days if you're not in the first five days of menstrual bleeding. If you're starting on the day of an in-clinic suction abortion, no backup is needed.