Nope... You are just as protected while on the inactive pills as you are during the active pills. No need to worry.

well, that's good news. How do you know that?

any doctor will tell you that. Any family planning clinic will tell you the same thing.

That and if you look at your pill package information, it clearly states you are protected!

i once asked someone on the phone from the clinic if it was okay that I had sex on the 1st day of placebo week...And the woman was urging me to take the day-after pill! She was not helpful at all. Before I found this messageboard, I tried calling 3 clinic hotlines and no one was able to answer my questions.

Now I am very confused (i am the person who posted the question). For those who said that I am as protected as I am while taking the active pills, I am curious how you know that? Why isnt it like when you forget to take your pills on a different week?? Thanks for the help!

apparently, the period you have during placebo week isn't from an actual menstrual cycle. And the placebo week gives you just enough time to shed some blood flow without actually letting you ovulate. (someone correct me if i'm wrong.)

what I don't understand then is... Why people say you have to take the pill at the same time every day for them to be effective birth control. And why it's only safe during the 4th week to not take pills and have sex, and not (for example) the 2nd week

Hormones, ladies, hormones. Your body will only ovulate when conditions are right. Conditions are not right when you are taking birth control pills filled with hormones that are, in essence, tricking your body.

I highly recommend condom useage if you are at all concerned about your risk of becoming pregnant while on the pill.

You take the pill at the same time every day to keep the hormone levels in your body the same. Some women get break through bleeding if they are just a few hours off from taking their pills at their usual time.