What to Do If You Missed a Birth Control Pill?

Hormonal contraceptives (birth control pills) are a popular method of contraception among women. However, as practice shows, many women forget to take a pill at least once. In such cases, it is important to know what to do to avoid undesirable consequences.

What to Do If You Miss One Pill and Less Than 12 Hours Have Passed?

If you forgot to take your pill and less than 12 hours have passed, don't worry. Simply take the pill as soon as you remember and continue taking the contraceptive as usual. The contraceptive effect will not be disrupted.

What to Do If More Than 12 Hours Have Passed?

If more than 12 hours have passed, it is important to consider which week of the pill cycle the missed pill was from.

If Two or More Pills Were Missed in the First Week

• Take the pill immediately as soon as you remember.
• Continue taking the pills as scheduled.
• Use a barrier method of contraception (such as a condom) for the next 7 days.
• If you had unprotected sex in the last 7 days, the risk of pregnancy increases. You might want to consider emergency contraception.

If Two or More Pills Were Missed in the Second Week

• Take the pill immediately as soon as you remember.
• If necessary, take a second pill on the same day.
• Continue taking the pills as scheduled.
• Use a barrier method of contraception for the next 7 days.
• No need for emergency contraception in this case.

If Two or More Pills Were Missed in the Third Week

• Take the pill as soon as you remember. If necessary, take two pills on the same day.
• Continue taking the pills as scheduled.
• Use a barrier method of contraception for the next 7 days.
• Do not take a break between packs. Start the next pack immediately after finishing the current one.

What to Do if You Vomited?

If you vomited less than 3 hours after taking the pill, take another pill. Vomiting can reduce the effectiveness of the contraceptive.

What to Do if You Regularly Miss Pills?

If you regularly forget to take your pills, set reminders on your phone. If the issue persists, discuss with your doctor the possibility of using another contraceptive method.

Conclusion

Don't panic if you missed a pill. It's important to take the necessary steps in a timely manner to maintain contraceptive effectiveness. If you have any doubts, consult your doctor for further recommendations.