MISSED PILLS
It is not easy to be perfect taking pills. We are bound to miss a pill here and there because
our life is never simple. In a 2002 Canadian Contraceptive Study, 6 out of
10 women had missed at least 1 pill during the previous 6 months. And 1 out of
10 missed 6 pills or more. Forgetting a pill in the 2nd or 3rd
week of the 21-day cycle is not likely to increase the risk of ovulation. But
if pills are missed at the beginning or the end of the 21 day cycles, there is
much higher risk of ovulation.
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Week 1 |
Week 2 |
Week 3 |
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Missed 1 pill |
Take it as soon as remembered (may mean taking 2 pills in 1 day) |
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Missed 2 or more pills in a “continuous” regimen |
· Take 2 pills as soon as possible and continue rest of package as usual. · Use a back up method of contraception for 7 days after missed pill. · Use emergency contraception after unprotected intercourse. |
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Missed 2 or more pills in a “cyclic” regimen |
As above |
Discard the remainder of the pack and start a new pack on the day when remembered. Menstruation may not occur in that month. Use a back up method of contraception for 7 days after missed pills. Use emergency contraception after unprotected intercourse
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