Can women who have not had a period for 4 months after giving birth take birth control pills?

Ask
Hello pharmacist,
I gave birth to a baby almost 4 months ago but I have not had my period again. So the pharmacist let me ask a woman who has not had a period for 4 months after giving birth to take birth control pills? If I finish 1 pack but I don't have a period, do I need to stop taking it to wait for my period and then continue taking it? Thank you pharmacist.
Hong Mi (1996)
Answer
Answered by Pharmacist Tran Huong Thu - Vinmec Ha Long International General Hospital.
Hello,
With the question “Can women who have not had a period take birth control pills for 4 months after giving birth? The pharmacist will answer as follows:
When to use birth control after giving birth will depend on how you are raising your baby, how long it takes to have sex again as well as when your period returns after giving birth. For women who breastfeed continuously and regularly in the first 6 months after giving birth, it usually takes 7 - 8 months for you to have your period again. If you have sex 2 weeks before your period, you are likely to be pregnant. Breastfeeding regularly and continuously for the first 6 months is not only a recommendation to help the baby get the best nutrition, but it is also a measure to help mothers avoid pregnancy after giving birth.
Breastfeeding causes the milk glands to continuously work, the body also receives a signal to stop the ovulation process, leading to a delay in menstruation. With this method of lactation amenorrhea, the effectiveness of contraception can reach 98%, but must ensure: The menstrual cycle has not appeared; children younger than 6 months old; Mothers breastfeed regularly at least 6 times/day, the interval between feedings should not exceed 4 hours during the day and 6 hours at night. Besides direct breastfeeding, using a milking machine also has a similar effect in reducing the activity of hormones that stimulate ovulation.
Contraceptives while breastfeeding include 2 types: Progestin-only pills and combined oral contraceptives. Both drugs are effective at preventing pregnancy. However, if you are breastfeeding, you should use a progestin-only pill (POC). This is a daily oral contraceptive pill that does not affect lactation and milk quality. According to WHO recommendations, women should take a daily progestin-only oral contraceptive for lactation about 6 weeks after giving birth because by this time lactation has been fully established. Progestin-only birth control pills thicken the cervical mucus, preventing an egg and sperm from meeting. In addition, some progestin-only oral contraceptives prevent women from ovulating.
If you still have questions about taking birth control pills, you can go to a hospital of Vinmec Health System for further examination and advice. Thank you for trusting and sending questions to Vinmec. Wishing you lots of health.
Best regards!