|
If it is less than 12 hours since the time when you should have taken the pill you still have contraceptive protection. Take the missed pill immediately. Then take all further pills at the usual time.
If it is more than 12 hours since you should have taken the pill you may no longer have effective contraceptive protection. There are concrete rules for the following situations:
You have missed more than one pill from a pack
The more pills you have missed, the greater is the risk that the pill is no longer effective. Ask your doctor for advice.
You have missed one pill in the first week
Take the pill as soon as you notice the omission (even if this means taking two pills in short succession on the same day). Take all further pills at the usual time. During the next 7 days you must use an additional mechanical form of contraception (e.g. condom, diaphragm, cervical cap).
Did you have sex in the week before you forgot to take the pill? If so, you could be pregnant. Speak to your doctor.
You have missed one pill in the second week
Take the missed pill as soon as you notice the omission (even if this means taking two pills in short succession on the same day). Take all further pills at the usual time. The pill is still effective and you don't need to take additional precautions.
You have missed one pill in the third week
There are two options. Additional precautions are not necessary in either case.
 |
Take the missed pill as soon as you notice the omission. Take all further pills at the usual time. Start the next pack immediately after finishing the current pack (i.e. without a pill-free interval). This means you will not have the usual withdrawal bleed. You may have spotting or breakthrough bleeding while using the second pack.
|
|
|
As soon as you notice that you have missed a pill in the third week do not take any further pills. Start the next pack after a pill-free interval of not more than 7 days (including the day on which the tablet was missed).
|
Please note: these recommendations only apply to pills containing an estrogen and a progestin. There are different rules for missed pills if you are taking a progestin-only pill (minipill).
|
