You are protected all four weeks, whether active or inactive, as long as you don't miss any pills..

if you miss a few pills, you're not protected. So how can you still be protected during the fourth week if the sugar pills contain no hormones? It's like missing 7 pills, isn't it?
I'm not saying you're wrong, I just never understood that. :-/

The pills work in such that the first three weeks contain hormones. These hormones work so that it prevents your body from ovulating, or releasing an egg from the ovary. In the fourth week, you go off the hormones. Since you are past your "ovulation" time, an egg will not be released. The lack of hormones allows your body to regulate and start having your period. Think of it like.. The first three weeks the pills trick your body into thinking it's pregnant so you don't release an egg.. And the last week it's like you stopped being pregnant and you get your period... Just without the pregnancy symptoms.

This is great to know. I counted it out and Im getting married and the day we get married I am on my last white pill! We do not want kids for 10 years or so we hope just till we are done with school!! Should you still use condoms when your on the white pill ? Or would we be alright being that my body would still just be getting a lower dose of hormones?