Author: Meaghan Bachop

Medically reviewed by Sanvithi Anjanappa and Praneel Kumar

 

Life can get busy, and sometimes, missing a birth control pill can happen! 

When it does, it’s important to stay calm and know how to proceed to ensure you’re still protected. Depending on how many pills you’ve missed, there may be different steps to follow. 

We’ve put together a quick and easy guide on what to do if you miss a dose of your birth control.

 

First, How Does the Birth Control Pill Actually Work?

The pill is a daily oral contraceptive that uses synthetic hormones (estrogen and/or progestin) to prevent ovulation, thicken cervical mucus, and thin the uterine lining. 

It’s 99% effective when used correctly, however in reality it’s typically only 93% effective due to inconsistencies by users. Essentially if you miss a dose – its effectiveness drops. 

There are a couple of ways to get back on track, depending on how many pills you’ve missed. For a full and detailed breakdown, check out this resource here.

 

In General:

If you’ve missed one pill (less than 48 hours late): 

• Take it as soon as you can, even if that means doubling up in one day. Then, continue your pack as usual
• No additional contraceptive protection needed
• Emergency contraception is not usually needed but can be considered if hormonal pills were missed earlier in the cycle or in the last week of the previous cycle

If you’ve missed two or more pills (48+ hours late): 

• Take the most recent missed pill as soon as possible (discarding any other missed pills)
• Continue taking your pills on schedule (even if it means taking a second pill on the day you remembered to get back on track)
• Use backup contraception (e.g., condoms) or avoid sexual intercourse until you have taken the hormonal pills for 7 consecutive days
• If you’ve missed a pill in the first 7 days of a new pack and had sex in the last 5 days, emergency contraception may be needed. For a detailed breakdown on what to do, check out this resource here.

 

Some Other Helpful Strategies

Use an App to Track: Download a pill tracker app like this one to help you stay on top of your daily doses. These apps can send reminders and help you track missed pills, so you don’t have to rely on memory alone.

Keep Extra Pills Handy: Carry an extra pack of pills with you or keep one in your bag or car, so you have a backup if you forget while traveling or out and about.

Set a Routine: Take your pill at the same time every day to make it part of your daily routine. This can help reduce the chances of forgetting it.

 

If you ever have any questions or are concerned about missed pills, don’t hesitate to reach out to your healthcare provider for further guidance – they’re there to help you navigate your birth control journey!

And remember, missing a pill isn’t the end of the world. Life happens and forgetting things is just a part of being human. The key is getting back on track and keeping yourself protected!