O Informationfrom Your Family Doctor

How to Switch Birth Control Methods

What is the best way to switch from new method time to start working before the
one birth control method to another? old one wears off. The table on the next page
It is important to go straight from one birth shows which methods should overlap and how
control method to the next, with no gaps in long the overlap should be. The overlap length
between. This will help lower your chance of appears in bold print.
getting pregnant.
If you take birth control pills, you do not When do I need a backup method?
need to finish the pill pack before switching to If you do not want to overlap the old method
another method. You can stop taking your pill and the new method, you can use a backup
at any point in the pack. If you are switching method instead. Backup methods include
to pills from another method, you should start condoms and spermicide. For example, if you
by taking the first pill in the pack. These rules do not want to keep taking the pill after you get
also apply to switching from one kind of pill to your first progestin shot, you can use condoms
another kind of pill. instead. You should use the backup method for
You may have changes in your period the same number of days listed in bold print in
after switching birth control methods. This is the table.
normal. Do not wait for your period before you If you do not want to use a backup method,
stop the old method or start the new one. you should avoid having sex for the same
number of days listed in bold print in the table.
When do I need to overlap birth To prevent human immunodeficiency virus
control methods? (HIV) and other sexually transmitted infections,
In some cases, you should have a few days of always use condoms when you have sex.
overlap. This means starting the new method March 2011
before stopping the old method. This gives the

This handout is provided to you by your family doctor and the American Academy of Family Physicians. Other
health-related information is available from the AAFP online at http://familydoctor.org.
This information provides a general overview and may not apply to everyone. Talk to your family doctor to find out if this
information applies to you and to get more information on this subject. Copyright © 2011 American Academy of Family
Physicians. Individuals may photocopy this material for their own personal reference, and physicians may photocopy for use
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 How to Switch Birth Control Methods

Switching to:

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Depo (progestin)
Switching from: Pill Patch Ring shot Progestin implant Progestin IUD Copper IUD

Pill No gap: take first pill of Start patch one day No gap: insert ring Get first shot Insert implant Insert progestin Can insert copper IUD
new pack the day after before stopping the day after taking seven days four days IUD seven days up to five days after
taking any pill in old pack pill any pill in pack before stopping before before stopping stopping pill
pill stopping pill pill

Patch Start pill one day before — No gap: insert ring Get first shot Insert implant Insert progestin Can insert copper IUD
removing patch and remove patch seven days four days IUD seven days up to five days after
on the same day before before before removing removing patch
removing patch removing patch patch

Ring Start pill one day before Start patch two — Get first shot Insert implant Insert progestin Can insert copper IUD
removing ring days before seven days four days IUD seven days up to five days after
removing ring before before before removing removing ring
removing ring removing ring ring

Depo (progestin) Can take first pill up to 15 Can start patch up to Can insert ring up to — Can insert Can insert Can insert copper IUD up
shot weeks after the last shot 15 weeks after the 15 weeks after the implant up to progestin IUD up to 16 weeks after the
last shot last shot 15 weeks after to 15 weeks after last shot
the last shot the last shot

Progestin implant Start pill seven days Start patch seven Start ring seven Get first shot — Insert progestin Can insert copper IUD
before removing implant days before days before seven days IUD seven days up to five days after
removing implant removing implant before removing before removing removing implant
implant implant

Progestin IUD Start pill seven days Start patch seven Start ring seven Get first shot Insert implant — Can insert copper IUD right
before removing IUD days before days before seven days four days after removing progestin
removing IUD removing IUD before before IUD
removing IUD removing IUD

Copper IUD Start pill seven days Start patch seven Start ring seven Get first shot Insert implant Insert progestin —
before removing IUD days before days before seven days four days IUD right after
removing IUD removing IUD before before removing copper
removing IUD removing IUD IUD and use
backup method
for seven days

IUD = intrauterine device.

Adapted from the Reproductive Health Access Project. http://www.reproductiveaccess.org.