My condom broke, what do I do?

If you are a female and your partners condom broke – if you are not on any form of hormonal birth control you may need ECP a.s.a.p (most effective when taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex). If concerned about contracting an STI, STI testing can be done on both parties after 14 days. Blood work can be done after 14 weeks.
If you are a male and the condom breaks – please follow the above recommendations re STI testing.

How long after unprotected sex can I get tested
for STI’s and pregnancy?

Testing for pregnancy can be done 1 week after your first missed period.
STI testing see above.

My period is late, what do I do?

Your period could be late for many reasons. If you are concerned about pregnancy and your period is a week late you can call and make an appointment for a pregnancy test and counselling. If pregnancy is not a concern please contact a health care provider for further information.

Can you get pregnant if you have sex on your period?

Yes. If you are not using birth control you can get pregnant on your period. Also, if you have not taken you birth control as directed you can also become pregnant.

How can I skip my period?

There are times when you may wish to skip your period.
For example:

A weekend getaway
A tropical vacation
A wedding

Plan in advance!

For 28-day birth control pill users:

Skip the placebo ("sugar") pills
Start a new pack right away

For 21-day birth control pill* users:

Skip the pill-free week
Start a new pack right away

Is this Method Safe and Effective?

Yes. You may experience some light bleeding, but the pregnancy protection is still just as effective. Skipping a period is safe to do from time to time. Check with your doctor if you want to skip your period more often.

What if I’m not yet on the Pill?

See your doctor about starting the pill at least two months ahead of time if you want to have a period-free month.

CAUTION: This method works only with MONOPHASIC pills (when all the pills are the same colour). If you are taking a TRIPHASIC pill (the pills in your package are not the same colour), please contact your family doctor or the Halifax Sexual Health Centre to arrange a different method. TRIPHASIC pills include Tri-cyclen, Triphasil, Triquilar, Synphasic, and Ortho 777, among others.