Hello Dr. Hatcher & Team!
My question is in regards to the rule of “taking your pill at the same time every day”.
Due to a medical condition, I have to take my Ocella at bedtime. I do take my pills RELIGIOUSLY every day, but my bedtime also varies everyday. It is usually never more than a 4 hour window – meaning I take them between 10:30pm – 2:30am… everyday.Â
Reading through your posts, I noticed that there is quite some leeway when it comes to pill-taking. But, considering my pill-taking habit, am I still getting the full pregnancy protection from the pill or should I consider another method of birth control?Â
As always, your advice and assistance is most highly appreciated!
Warm Regards & Happy Holidays
A:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Not a problem.
| Yes, that would be an appropriate thing to say in terms of pill effectiveness. The advantage of “exactly the same time†recommendations is that they mean a woman is not forgetting her pills for multiple days on end (which does happen).
Your pattern of taking pills is not lowering the effectiveness of your pills at all. |
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Her email reply on 12-6: “A million thanks again for all your help! You and your team are truly a beacon of truth in the fog that is contraceptive management!   Â
Happy Holidays to you all!â€
Happy New Year and thank you for such nice words.
Robert A. Hatcher MD, MPH
Professor of Gynecology and Obstetrics
Emory University School of Medicine
Atlanta, GA
