I recently began my first package of the birth control pill (Marvelon 28). I was told to start it on the first day of my period. I am now on the ninth day of the first package and am still experiencing menstrual bleeding (before I went on the pill my period usually lasted four, maximum five days). In this time I have had unprotected sex once (on the fifth day). Is it 'normal' to experience such bleeding? Could I be pregnant? Should I switch to a different pill?

Hopefully your health care provider explained to you that it is not advised to have unprotected intercourse during the first cycle of pills, so you are at risk of possible pregnancy and should be checked two weeks after that unprotected intercourse. Also, more prolonged or erratic bleeding is not unusual during the first three months of pills as your body adjusts to the new level of hormone. It is premature to say that you need to switch to another pill dosage.