What Do I Do if I Forget to Take My Birth Control Pill?

Maybe you slept over at a friend’s, your reminder alarm never went off, or you just got busy. Missing a birth control pill can seem scary, but it happens to a lot of people, and it’s what you do next that matters.

First, figure out what kind of pill you use. Birth control pills fall into two categories: combination pills (with both estrogen and progestin) and progestin-only pills (mini-pills). The rules for what to do when you miss a pill depend on which type you use and when you miss it in your pack.

If you missed one combination pill and it’s been less than 48 hours since your last pill:

· Take the missed pill as soon as you remember. Then take today’s pill on schedule, even if that means taking two pills in one day.

· As long as you’ve been taking your pills for at least a week, you won’t need a backup method. But if you’re not sure, use a backup method like condoms for the next 7 days.

If you missed two or more combination pills:

· Take one of the missed pills right away, leaving the others in the pack. Take today’s pill at the time you normally would, even if it means taking two at the same time. Then, continue taking your pills at your usual time.

· If two or more missed pills are in Week 3 of your pack, finish that week of pills following then instructions above then skip any hormone-free pills and start a new pack the day after you finish your last active pill.

· Use a back-up method, like condoms, until you’ve taken active hormone pills for 7 days in a row.

· Consider taking emergency contraception if you’ve had sex in the last 5 days, especially during the first week of your pack of pills.

· If you have questions, contact your provider about how to restart your birth control method after using emergency contraception.

If you missed a progestin-only pill, or took your pill more than 3 hours late:

· Take your missed pill as soon as you remember, even if that means taking two pills in one day.

· Use a backup method, like condoms, for the next 48 hours.

· Consider taking emergency contraception if you’ve had sex in the last 5 days.

· If you have questions, contact your provider about how to restart your birth control method after using emergency contraception.

Bottom Line:

Knowing what kind of pill you take, catching up correctly, and using a backup method like condoms can make a difference if you forget to take your pill. For answers to your specific questions, make an appointment to talk to the providers at your nearest The Right Time health center.