We’ve been seeing a lot of questions in our ask box about the placebo pills at the end of your birth control pack—so we wanted to clear some stuff up.

If you’re taking birth control correctly and consistently (check out a more detailed explanation of how to do that here) then you’re protected against pregnancy absolutely all the time, every hour of every day of every week of your pack. This includes the four or seven days of placebo pills, when you’re on your period. Same goes for when you’re taking placebo pills and might not have your period yet. You’re still protected.

So to rephrase—as long as you’re taking the pill correctly, and start every new pack the day after you finish the old one, there will be no gaps or decreased effectiveness in pregnancy protection. You’re good.

-Nina at PPFA