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What to Do If You Miss a Birth Control Pill

Sunday, August 02, 2009
Related Tags: pills | contraception | pack | day | progestin
 

Instructions

One or Two Combination Pills in the First Two Weeks

  • Step 1:
    If you only miss one pill, take it as soon as you remember, then take the next pill at your normal time that same day. If you miss two pills in a row, you should take two pills that day and two the next day. You can then resume taking one pill each day. Whether you missed one or two pills, you will need to use a backup method of birth control, such as condoms, for at least the next seven days.

Two or More Combination Pills in the Third Week or Three Pills at Any Time

  • Step 1:
    If you started taking your pill pack on a Sunday, keep taking a pill each day until Sunday, when you will throw out the old pack and start taking a new pack. If you started your pill pack on the first day of your period, immediately throw out your old pack and start taking a new pack that same day. In either circumstance you should use another method of contraception for at least seven days.

Any of the Remainder Pills

  • Step 1:
    If you miss any of your remainder pills, the placebo pills that make up the fourth week in a 28-day pill pack, throw out the unused pills and take the rest of the pills at the normal time. You will not need to use a backup method of birth control.

One or More Progestin-Only Pills

  • Step 1:
    With progestin-only pills, the risk of pregnancy increases when you take your pill more than three hours late. You should take a pill as soon as you remember, then take your next pill at your normal time. You will need to use another method of contraception for 48 hours after taking the first pill that you missed.

Emergency Contraception

  • Step 1:
    You may wish to use emergency contraception if you have intercourse before you realize that you've forgotten to take one or more pills. Emergency contraception, or the morning after pill, is most effective if it is taken within five days after intercourse.

Side Effects

  • Step 1:
    Some women experience bleeding or spotting when they miss a pill. When you have to take two pills in one day to make up for missing a pill, nausea is a common side effect.

Late Period

  • Step 1:
    If you don't get your period and have forgotten to take one or more pills that month, you should take a pregnancy test.

Photo/Video Credit

Melissa Ramirez on sxc.hu

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