that completey depends on your body. birth control has never really worked for me. i've tried it for years and many different kinds.. i have two children and have had one miscarriage. i'm 30. my doctor has told me in the past that it depends on the women's body as to when the egg will drop due to not taking your pill. by not taking it for several days it could make your body release an egg (or two??) w/in a few days of you not taking it.. however.. w/ some women it takes several months for her body to "get back to normal" after getting off the pill. so.. sorry if that doesn't help much.. but it sounds like you are getting close to the day that you are supposed to start. don't be alarmed though if you don't start on time b/c you haven't taken your pill properly.. but i would take a hpt.. if it's neg.. and you still haven't started in a week.. take another one!