Yes, that's very bad to do. Because of how they're absorbed, you shouldn't chew them. There is a specific birth control made to be chewed.

As a general rule, medication should never be chewed unless it is designed to be chewed.

If you have difficulty swallowing pills, here is my advice.

1. Don't try placing them all the way on the back of your tongue, just place it somewhere comfortably on your tongue. I can't place them far back either.

2. Then, take a drink into your mouth, tip your head back, and feel the pill drift to the back of your mouth. Then swallow, and drink some more.

3. Next, eat something. I cannot normally take pills without eating something afterward because it feels like it is stuck in my throat, so eating something consoles me and lets me know it has slid all the way down.

That works for me. I can even take two pills at a time now! I never used to be able to do that. I had to take them one at a time.

If Eiri's tips dont' work try getting the chewable kind or you could also try the patch, the ring or depo. Good luck!

Thanks for the tips and recommendations.

Since I had chewed my previous two pills despite taking them on the first day of my period, how long should I wait before the pills are fully effective in preventing pregnancy without the use of a condom?

Wait ONE week from the day you start taking them correctly, that's the best advice I can give. That's the basic advice for pills: one week. It's one week if you accidentally skip 2 or more, and 1 week if you hadn't started on the first day of your period.

I think the timing is technically within 3 days of your period starting, but to be safe you should probably wait a week. I'd say it's nearly impossible and you're safe, but you never know.