Should I Use a Condom If I’m on Birth Control?

If you’re on a 21-day pill schedule that leaves you 7 days without pills (or 7 days with sugar pills) and you’ve taken your medication correctly and consistently, you’ll be protected from pregnancy during your placebo week. This means that you don’t have to use a condom during that week to protect against pregnancy. However, you do need to wear a condom to protect yourself against sexually transmitted infections, or STIs, (also known as sexually transmitted diseases or STDs) which birth control pills do not prevent. STIs are infections you can get by having sex—and everyone who is sexually active is at risk. Be safe, get tested, and when in doubt, wear a condom. 

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