What if I miss two or more pills in a row?

Missing two or more combined pills

You might not be protected from pregnancy if you have either:

• Missed two or more combined pills
• Started a new pill pack two or more days late

You should take the most recently missed pill immediately, but leave any pills missed in the days earlier – i.e. take Wednesday’s pill on Thursday, but don’t take Monday’s and Tuesday’s pills even if you missed those too. Don’t worry about taking two pills in one day because it won’t cause any adverse effects. Then continue with your pack as normal, but use extra contraception – eg condoms – for the next seven days.

Starting a new pack? You might not start as normal if you’ve missed two or more pills in the previous month.

• If you have seven or more pills left after missing some: finish the pack and take the break (or inactive pills) as normal.
• If you have fewer than seven pills left after missing some: finish the pack and start a new one, without taking the break or your inactive pills.

Missing two or more progestogen-only pills

Progestogen-only pills (POPs) should be taken within the same time window each day. You  either have a three or 12-hour window, depending on the specific pill you take. A missed POP means you have not taken your pill within the time window, and you may not be protected against pregnancy.

You should take the most recently missed pill as soon as you realise. Similarly to missing combined pills, taking two POPs in one day is perfectly safe. Take only one extra pill, even if you’ve missed several days worth of birth control. Then carry on with your pack as normal, but use extra contraception – eg condoms – for the next two days.

Remembering your pill

It’s easy for your pill to slip your mind. Luckily, there are a few simple ways to help you remember it:

• Set a daily alarm or reminder on your phone
• Leave yourself a note in a spot you visit everyday, like by your door or on your fridge
• Add your daily pill to your regular routine. Whether it be during your morning routine when you first wake up or during your night routine before you brush your teeth, make it a daily habit. This way, taking your pill will become a natural habit over time.

If you’ve had unprotected sex after missing two or more pills, you may need to consider emergency contraception. The morning-after pill may be your best option as it can be effective for up to five days after unprotected sex. Schedule a consultation with us today– if approved, you’ll get the emergency morning-after pill delivered to your door in discreet packaging.

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