What To Do When You Miss Your Contraceptive Pill

Missing the contraceptive pill is a common issue for between 15 and 51% of users, particularly adolescents. The most common reasons for forgetting the pill include general forgetfulness, busy or changing schedules, and illness.

Although the effectiveness of the pill can still be high, 91% for typical use of both the combined and mini pill, how well it will protect you against pregnancy will depend on when you take it and which type of pill you are using. If taken perfectly the pill is up to 99% effective at preventing pregnancy.

In this guide, we discuss why missing the contraceptive pill matters, what can happen if you do, and the steps you can take to help you remember to take it on time.

If you have missed 1 pill and had unprotected sex, there may be a chance that you could get pregnant, depending on which pill you take.

If you miss 1:

• combined pill, and it is less than 24 hours late, you will still be protected against pregnancy
• 3-hour window mini pill, and it is less than 3 hours late, you will still be protected against pregnancy
• 12-hour window mini pill, and you are less than 12 hours late taking it, you should still be protected

If you miss 1 pill and you’re outside of these time limits, check your patient information leaflet for specific instructions or speak to a pharmacist or doctor if you’re worried about pregnancy.

If you’ve missed a pill, the next steps will depend on which pill you take, how late you are, and where you are in your schedule. If you have missed a pill, the general advice is to:

• take the missed pill as soon as you remember
• take the next pill at the usual time
• use a backup method of contraception, like condoms, for 2 (if taking the minipill) or 7 days (if taking the combined pill)

If you’ve missed one combined pill

If you have missed 1 combined pill, such as Microgynon, Rigevidon, Gedarel, Yasmin, or Marvelon, take the missed pill as soon as you remember and take the rest of your pills as usual, even if it means taking 2 pills on the same day.

You will still be protected against pregnancy unless it's been more than 24 hours since you should have taken it and you have:

• missed more than 1 pill in the last 7 days
• missed the first pill after your 7-day break

If either of these applies to you and you have had unprotected sex in the last 7 days, you may need emergency contraception like the morning-after pill and to use condoms for the next 7 days.

If you have only missed 1 pill and it was not in the first week, and you have taken the pill correctly for the 7 days before the missed pill, you do not need to use extra contraception. However, you may choose to use condoms as extra protection if you would like peace of mind.

If you’ve missed two or more combined pills

If you have missed 2 or more combined pills, you should:

• take the most recent missed pill as soon as you remember
• continue taking the rest of your pills as usual
• use condoms for the next 7 days

If you have had unprotected sex in the last 7 days, you may need emergency contraception.

If you have less than 7 active pills left in your pack, start a new strip immediately after finishing the current one. This means you will skip the pill-free break.

If you’ve missed one mini pill

What you will need to do if you miss the mini pill will depend on which type you are taking:

• 3-hour window pills contain levonorgestrel or norethisterone and include Noriday and Norgeston
• 12-hour window pills are a newer type of mini pill and contain desogestrel, such as Cerazette, Cerelle, and Hana

If you take a 3-hour window pill and are less than 3 hours late, take the missed pill as soon as you remember and take your next pill at the usual time. You will still be protected against pregnancy.

If you take a 3-hour window pill and are more than 3 hours late:

• take the missed pill as soon as you remember, even if you have to take 2 pills in 1 day
• take your next pill at the usual time
• use extra contraception, like condoms, for the next 2 days and continue to take your pill at the normal time
• if you’ve had unprotected sex in the week before your missed pill you may need emergency contraception

If you take a 12-hour window pill and are less than 12 hours late, take the missed pill as soon as you remember and take your next pill at the usual time. You will still be protected against pregnancy.

If you take a 12-hour window pill and are more than 12 hours late taking the pill:

• take the missed pill as soon as you remember, even if you have to take 2 pills in 1 day
• take your next pill at the usual time
• use extra contraception, like condoms, for the next 2 days and continue to take your pill at the normal time
• if you’ve had unprotected sex in the week before your missed pill you may need emergency contraception

If you’ve missed two or more mini pills

If you have missed 2 or more mini pills, take the most recently missed pill as soon as you remember and skip the earlier missed pills. You will need to use condoms for the next 2 days.

If you have had unprotected sex and missed the pill, you may need emergency contraception.

What to watch out for

If you have forgotten to take your pill, even if you’ve missed one pill and had unprotected sex, you should look out for the following missed pill symptoms:

• irregular bleeding
• missed period
• feeling or being sick
• extreme tiredness
• breast tenderness and/or swelling
• food cravings
• mood swings
• bloating or cramping

If you have any of these symptoms or have missed your pill, there is a chance you could be pregnant. Take an at-home pregnancy test or contact your doctor for more advice.

You may need to use emergency contraception if you have had sex without a condom and have missed your pill if:

• you have missed the first pill after your week break of your combined pill pack
• you’ve missed 2 to 7 combined pills, depending on how well you’ve used the pill before this and where you are in your pack
• you’ve missed more than 7 combined pills
• it is outside the mini pill window of 3 or 12 hours or 24 hours for the combined pill
• you take Qlaira, a phasic combined pill or a combined pill with placebo pills and have missed a pill

If you are unsure, a doctor, nurse, or pharmacist can help you decide if you need the morning after pill. You can request the morning after pill from Superdrug Online Doctor and have it delivered to your home address the next day.

If you struggle to remember to take the contraceptive pill or find you are frequently forgetting to take it on time, you’re not alone. There are things you can do to help you remember, though, including:

✓ setting an alarm on your phone at the time you need to take the pill

✓ downloading and using a pill-reminder app

✓ using pill organiser boxes so you can visually see if you have taken the pill on a specific day

✓ taking the pill at the same time as a daily activity, such as brushing your teeth

If you find that you still miss the pill frequently, there are many other types of contraception available, and it may be more useful to consider a long-acting birth control method, such as the:

• implant
• intrauterine device (IUD)
• intrauterine system (IUS)
• contraceptive injection

Missing the pill is a common occurrence and is often due to things like:

• forgetfulness
• illness, such as sickness and/or diarrhoea
• taking the pill outside of its effectiveness window
• busy schedules
• side effects

Not taking the pill correctly can increase the chance of pregnancy, so it is important to understand how the pill you are taking works and what to do if you miss a pill or are late taking it.

Setting an alarm on your phone or pairing it with a normal daily activity can prompt you to take the pill on time. However, if you find you are regularly forgetting your pill, you may need to consider a long-acting method of contraception.

Can I get pregnant if I missed one pill?

Yes, it is possible to get pregnant if you have missed one pill and had unprotected sex. The chance is lower if you take the combined pill and have taken your earlier pills correctly. If you use the mini pill and have missed it or taken it outside of its effectiveness window and have had unprotected sex, there is an increased chance of pregnancy.

Does missing a pill cause spotting?

Yes, a missed pill is a common cause of spotting or irregular bleeding because it can cause a drop in hormone levels, causing the womb lining to shed. Light spotting, also known as implantation bleeding, can also be an early sign of pregnancy, so you may need to take an at-home pregnancy test.

What if I missed a pill in the first week?

If you’ve missed a pill in the first week of your strip, what you need to do will depend on which type of pill you are taking. You should follow the advice in the patient information leaflet that comes with your pill or speak to a doctor or pharmacist for more advice.

What if I missed a pill two months in a row?

If you have not taken a pill for at least 2 months and have unprotected sex, you should take a pregnancy test, as there is a chance you could be pregnant.

What if I can’t remember if I took my pill?

If you cannot remember if you took your pill, contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice. They will advise you on what you should do next, depending on the type of contraceptive pill you are taking.

How quickly do you ovulate after missing a pill?

It is possible to ovulate within a few days of not taking the pill, but the chance of pregnancy after missing a pill will depend on when you missed the pill and how many you forgot to take.