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Missed Pill Advice

What do I do if I forget a Combined (COC) pill?

If ONE or TWO pills have been missed at any time
OR
ONE pill if taking a 20 ug pill ( Femodette, Mercilon, Loestrin 20)

  • Take the most recent missed pill now
  • Continue taking the remaining pills daily at the usual time - this may mean taking two pills on the same day 
  • No additional contraception needed

HOWEVER, ANY MISSED PILLS IN THE LAST WEEK OF THE PREVIOUS PACKET SHOULD BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT WHEN CONSIDERING THE NEED FOR EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION.  PLEASE SEEK ADVICE IF CONCERNED ABOUT MISSED PILLS.

If THREE OR MORE pills missed at any time
OR
TWO or more when using a 20 ug pill (Loestrin 20, Mercilon, Femodette)

  • Take the most recent missed pill now
  • Continue taking the remaining pills daily at the usual time- this may mean taking two pills on the same day
  • You should use condoms or abstain from sex until you have taken 7 pills in a row

NOTE: Extending the pill free interval is risky therefore:

If pills are missed in the first week of pill taking (pills 1-7):
EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION should be considered if you have had unprotected sex in the pill free week or first week of pill taking.

If pills are missed in the second week of pill taking (Pills 8-14):
After 7 consecutive days of pill taking, emergency contraception is not required.

If pills are missed in the third week of pill taking (Pills 15-21):
OMIT THE PILL FREE INTERVAL by finishing the pills in your current pack (or discarding any placebo pills in an ED pack) and start a new pack the next day.

 

What do I do if I forget a Progestogen only (POP)pill ? 

 Traditional POP : Micronor, Noriday, Norgeston,Femulen
 More than 27 hours since last pill taken (more than 3 hours late)

Desogestrel-only: Cerazette
More than 36 hours since last pill taken (more than 12 hours late)

Take pill as soon as remembered. If more than one pill missed only take one pill.
Take next pill at usual time even if you take 2 pills on the same day.This is not harmful.
Use an aditional method ie condoms or abstinence for the next 48 hours

Emergency contraception may be indicated if sex occurs within the 48 hour period

Further information can be found on http://www.fpa.org.uk/.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any worries regarding missed pills. Our telephone number is 07781 103434