Medically reviewed by Sophia Yen, MD, MPH – Written by Pandia Wellness Editorial Team. Updated on February xi, 2021

You know that feeling of momentary panic when you realize you've forgotten to have your birth control pill? It's like when yous lose your wallet, keys, or phone, just the upshot is potentially getting meaning Not fun!

Thankfully, you have some leeway if you miss a regular birth control pill. Read on to learn more about what happens if you miss your pill and the form of action yous should take to go dorsum on track .

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How many active pills in a row accept you taken?

The first thing to consider when yous notice that you take missed your pill is how many active pills in a row you accept taken prior to the skipped solar day.

I've missed ane to five pills

When you continually utilize the birth control pill, patch, or band, your hormone levels remain stable for those iii weeks that you are taking the active medication. A withdrawal drain occurs when those hormonal levels driblet, usually because you've entered the placebo week or have missed iii or more pills in a row.

Previously, birth command pills contained 100 micrograms of hormones, whereas today, most pills incorporate 20-35 micrograms . When the microgram level was higher, the calendar week of placebo pills was accounted necessary because the hormones in the active pills stayed in the torso longer. Yet, now that there are fewer micrograms of hormones in the pill, taking the daily dose is especially of import for increasing efficacy and preventing pregnancy . If you take taken your agile pills regularly prior to the placebo week, you should nevertheless exist protected during this time.

Permit's say you miss 5 days of your nativity control pills in a row. In this scenario, yous've essentially approximated the placebo week! Depending on the type of birth control pill yous're on, the menses you have the sugar pills (placebo pills) tin can concluding anywhere from four to vii days. This is non a problem if yous've already taken iii weeks of active pills in a row leading up to this indicate, as the hormones will still be active in your body and working to prevent pregnancy.

However, if you're only on the first, second, or 3rd week of your pill pack and you haven't taken a pill for 3 to five days in a row, yous may not be protected from pregnancy. Furthermore, if you program to take heterosexual sex, yous should utilize an external barrier such as condoms . Non only will this provide extra protection from pregnancy, but it will also prevent the spread of STIs between you and your partner.

I've missed more than than 5 pills

If you go more 7 days without the hormone, then you risk ovulation occurring — this is when an egg travels from your ovaries to your uterus for fertilization — therefore increasing the gamble of pregnancy. However, this can happen quicker for women who accept a high BMI (weight-to-height ratio) as this can lead to quicker ovulation; women who are overweight may experience ovulation just five days later being off of the pill, patch, or ring.

TL;DR: If you've missed 5 or more days of birth control and want to have sex, you should use a backup course of contraception as you are at chance of getting pregnant. Additionally, if you realize that you lot skipped a nascence command pill in the days after you had sex, information technology may exist a proficient thought to use emergency contraception such as Ella or Programme B.

What blazon of pill are you on?

The effects of skipping your nascency command tin vary depending on which type you are taking . If you're non sure, there is a combination pill (which contains both estrogen and progesterone ) and a "mini" pill (which contains only progesterone).

I'm on the mini pill

If you're using the mini pill and are at least three hours belatedly to take it on a certain day, hither's what you need to do:

  • Utilise a fill-in method if you programme on having sexual activity in the next three days

  • Employ emergency contraception if you had sex in the previous three days earlier missing your pill

I'chiliad on the combination pill

If you're using the combination pill here's what you demand to do:

  • If you've missed one pill: take the concluding pill you missed as soon equally possible, even if this means taking 2 pills in 1 day

  • If yous've missed two or more than: have the last pill you lot missed equally presently as possible, comport on taking the rest of the pack as usual, and utilize a barrier method such as condoms to foreclose pregnancy if y'all have sexual activity in the next week. You may also need to use emergency contraception if you missed more than one pill in the offset week of your pack and had unprotected sex.

Whether you lost a pill, forgot to accept information technology, or simply didn't desire to have it, you're non alone. Near people have skipped or forgotten to take their birth control at some point. However, information technology's important to remember that in society for birth control to be effective at preventing pregnancy , it must be taken as prescribed.

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And then, what'due south next?

What happens if y'all miss a day of birth command?

The first footstep is to not panic. Missing just one day of birth command is not the end of the globe, equally you will however exist protected from pregnancy if you have been taking it regularly. Take the missed pill as soon equally you remember that you forgot it. If that happens to be the next day, have it with your next pill (taking two pills at in one case is okay!).

What happens if y'all miss two days of birth control?

If you missed 2 pills, take both pills as soon equally possible. And then, accept the side by side two pills the next twenty-four hours and continue on with your regular one-pill-per-day routine subsequently.

What happens if you miss three days of birth control?

Three missed pills could atomic number 82 to you getting your period and, more importantly, getting significant. If you're sexually active , make sure to apply a barrier nativity control method like condoms. If you had penetrative intercourse in the previous five days, consider using emergency contraception .

What happens if you miss a week of birth command?

Missing ane week of birth control is more than or less the equivalent of taking placebo pills for a week. You will likely go a period. If this happens, it's necessary to use an boosted course of contraception in club to prevent pregnancy, as you volition no longer exist protected past the hormones in your pill. If you purposely skipped your pills because you practice not like your electric current prescription, consult a doctor ; there are dozens of different types of pills available, so your doctor can help you observe an alternative choice that works improve for your body and lifestyle.

Can skipping your period prevent pregnancy?

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What's the takeaway?

What happens if you lot miss a day of nativity command?

The commencement step is to not panic. Missing just i day of nascence command is not the end of the world, as yous will still be protected from pregnancy if you have been taking it regularly. Take the missed pill as before long as you remember that you forgot it – if that happens to be the side by side 24-hour interval, take it with your adjacent pill (taking two pills at once is okay!).

What happens if yous miss 2 days of birth command?

If you missed 2 pills, take both pills as before long as possible. And so, have the next ii pills the next day and continue on with your regular i-pill-per-day routine afterwards.

What happens if y'all miss three days of birth command?

Three missed pills could lead to you getting your period and more importantly, getting pregnant. If you're sexually active, make sure to use a fill-in birth control like condoms. If y'all had penetrative intercourse in the past 5 days, consider using emergency contraception.

What happens if you miss a week of birth control?

Missing one week of birth control is about the equivalent of taking placebo pills for a week. Furthermore, you will likely get a period. If this happens, it is necessary to use an additional form of contraception in order to preclude pregnancy, equally you volition no longer exist protected by the hormones in your pill. If yous purposely skipped your pills because you do not similar your current prescription, consult a doctor; they can help you find something that works better for your trunk and lifestyle.

Can skipping your menstruation prevent pregnancy?

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Skipping your period is possible when y'all accept nascency control. If you're on the pill, just skip the last week (the placebo week or the week of no pills) and start your next pack right away. You tin can besides ask your doctor to prescribe you packs that do not contain placebo pills. If you are always on an active pill, your risk of becoming pregnant will decrease. With that said, it's important to call back that the pill alone won't prevent the spread of STIs.

To larn more than about the benefits of skipping your menstruum with nascence command, cheque out our #PeriodsOptional folio .

Now you know what happens when y'all miss a pill and how to make sure that you prevent unplanned pregnancy!

How Can Pandia Help?

I of the summit reasons why women that women miss their pill is because they've run out! Whether due to having no time to run to the pharmacy or not being able to get a prescription renewed, running out of pills is a huge dilemma. Don't permit this happen to you.

And so, fix information technology and forget information technology with Pandia Health , the most trusted provider for nascency command delivery and the ONLY doctor-led, women-led, and women-founded . Let us worry about getting your birth control to you on time, so you lot don't have to. Sign up today to get your prescription (new or old) delivered to your mailbox for Gratuitous. You'll never run out of nascence control on our lookout man.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do if I lose a birth control pack?

Dr. Sophia Yen , CEO and co-founder of Pandia Health, notes that you should contact your pharmacy and ask for a replacement pack. Nigh insurance will cover it ; if not, information technology's generally around $15/pack.

Can you become meaning if you miss one pill?

Information technology's not probable if yous've but missed i! However, if you've missed iii days of pills , you are at risk of getting meaning. Consider taking emergency contraception if you had sexual practice during those 3 days.

What happens if you accept your nascency control late?

You will be protected as long as you lot have the combination nascence command pill within v hours on either side of the time you took it the day earlier. However, it's recommended that yous get into a routine of taking your pill at the aforementioned time every day.

Progestin-only pills (minipill) should be taken at the same fourth dimension every day, as being off past even three hours can reduce the level of protection.

Combination birth control pills tin exist off past +/- 5 five hours. However, it is a good idea to get into a routine of taking your pill at the same fourth dimension every day. Progestin-only pills (minipill), however, should be taken at the same fourth dimension every twenty-four hour period, as existence off by three hours tin reduce the level of protection.

Disclaimer: The above information is for general advisory purposes just and is Non a substitute for professional medical communication. Always seek the advice of your dr./primary care provider before starting or changing treatment.