Yes. You are still protected during the "off week." even though you are not taking your active pills you are still protected during this time.

Your doctor should have informed you about when it will be safe to have unprotected sex. Most doctors recommend being on the pill for a month before starting to not use condoms while other wait a week.

You only have to wait the on week after starting active pills in your first month of taking it. You are now fully protected and do not need to use a backup method in the week following you placebo pills.

Having said that no birth control method is 100% and you can never be too safe

No no no.

You ned only take birth control for 7 days in order for it to be effective. It even explains this in the pill package information.

yeah but whats the point of reading the leaflet that comes with the pills - I mean it only contains important information about their particular medication - no point reading it at all.

**sarcasm sorry**
just wish people would have some common sense is all.

I understand kia....

I will say this, many doctors do tell patients to take their pills for a month befor ehaving unprotected sex. It is not because it takes that long to be effective though, it is because women are more likely to mess up their very first month ever.