Question:
BIRTH CONTROL, FOR ALL YOU NURSES OUT THERE......

MY HUSBAND IS GOING OUT OF TOWN FOR 9 WEEKS AND I WAS THINKING OF GETTING OFF THE PILL FOR THE TIME HE IS GONE. I HAVE BEEN ON THE PILL FOR 15 YEARS STRAIGHT AND I WAS WANTING TO SEE HOW SOON BEFORE HE GETS BACK SHOULD I GET BACK ON? HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO BE EFFECTIVE? WILL IT CAUSE ME ANY PROBLEMS BEING OFF OF IT OR WHEN I GET BACK ON SINCE I HAVE BEEN ON IT FOR SO LONG? ANY FEEDBACK WOULD BE GREAT. THANKS EVERYONE.    — DBXX (posted on August 30, 2004)

August 30, 2004
I am not a nurse, but a did take a 1 year break from the pill. When I went back on the doctor told me to use condoms for 3 months after to be safe. He said it coud take 2 to 3 months for the pill to become effective in my system again. I would definately check with your doctor.
   — ckreh

August 30, 2004
I was on the pill for a number of years and remember requiring 2 cycles of "extra" protection before it was safe. Good luck!
   — Fixnmyself

August 31, 2004
you would need to be on the pill again for 2 months before you would be safe, frankly , thought theres no "need" i would simply stay on it
   — bethlaf

August 31, 2004
From everything I've read in the insert that comes with the pills, it takes 2 weeks for them to become effective when you first start them again. However, this also depends on your cycle-- you usually start a packet of pills on the first day of your period or the Sunday after the first day. You shouldn't mess with your pills until you talk to your gyno (Planned Parenthood also has info on this) but I definitely understand wanting to take a break. Have you thought about a different method of birth control-- this may be a good time to do so.
   — lizinPA