Starting the Pill After the review by your doctor, you will be able to fill your prescription. Australian pill packets contain both hormonal 'active' pills and 'inactive' pills. ‘Inactive’ pills are sometimes called the ‘sugar pills’. Your doctor will explain starting the Pill with you, based on the particular Pill being prescribed for you, as all packages look different. Key points: If you start on an 'active' pill on any of the first 5 days of your cycle (day 1 of the cycle is the day your period starts) then you are protected against pregnancy immediately Starting the first packet of the Pill at any other time in your menstrual cycle, you will be protected from pregnancy only after you have taken 7 hormone 'active' pills