Medically reviewed by Sophia Yen, Dr., MPH – Written past Pandia Health Editorial Team. Updated on February 11, 2021

You know that feeling of momentary panic when y'all realize you lot've forgotten to have your birth control pill? Information technology'due south like when you lose your wallet, keys, or telephone, merely the consequence is potentially getting pregnant Not fun!

Thankfully, you have some leeway if y'all miss a regular birth control pill. Read on to learn more almost what happens if you miss your pill and the course of activeness you should take to get back on runway .

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How many active pills in a row have you lot taken?

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

I've missed one to five pills

When y'all continually use the nativity control pill, patch, or band, your hormone levels remain stable for those iii weeks that you are taking the agile medication. A withdrawal bleed occurs when those hormonal levels drop, usually considering you've entered the placebo week or have missed iii or more pills in a row.

Previously, nascence command pills independent 100 micrograms of hormones, whereas today, most pills contain 20-35 micrograms . When the microgram level was college, the calendar week of placebo pills was deemed necessary because the hormones in the active pills stayed in the trunk longer. However, now that there are fewer micrograms of hormones in the pill, taking the daily dose is especially important for increasing efficacy and preventing pregnancy . If you have taken your active pills regularly prior to the placebo week, you should still be protected during this time.

Let's say you miss 5 days of your nascency control pills in a row. In this scenario, you've substantially approximated the placebo calendar week! Depending on the blazon of birth command pill you're on, the menstruation you have the sugar pills (placebo pills) tin last anywhere from 4 to 7 days. This is non a problem if you've already taken three weeks of active pills in a row leading up to this point, as the hormones will still be active in your torso and working to prevent pregnancy.

However, if you're only on the get-go, second, or third week of your pill pack and you lot haven't taken a pill for 3 to five days in a row, you may non be protected from pregnancy. Furthermore, if you program to have heterosexual sex, you should apply an external barrier such every bit condoms . Not just will this provide extra protection from pregnancy, only it will as well prevent the spread of STIs between y'all and your partner.

I've missed more 5 pills

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

TL;DR: If you've missed 5 or more than days of birth command and want to accept sexual practice, you should utilise a backup form of contraception as you are at risk of getting significant. Additionally, if you realize that you skipped a nativity command pill in the days later you had sexual activity, information technology may exist a good idea to use emergency contraception such equally Ella or Plan B.

What type of pill are you on?

The effects of skipping your nascency command tin vary depending on which type y'all are taking . If you're not sure, at that place 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 lot're using the mini pill and are at least iii hours late to take it on a certain twenty-four hour period, here's what you lot demand to practice:

  • Use a fill-in method if you lot plan on having sex in the adjacent three days

  • Use emergency contraception if you had sex in the previous three days before missing your pill

I'm on the combination pill

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

  • If yous've missed one pill: take the terminal pill you lot missed equally presently every bit possible, even if this means taking 2 pills in 1 day

  • If you lot've missed two or more: take the last pill you missed as soon as possible, carry on taking the rest of the pack as usual, and use a bulwark method such equally condoms to foreclose pregnancy if y'all take sex in the next week. Y'all may as well need to use emergency contraception if yous missed more one pill in the first week of your pack and had unprotected sex.

Whether yous lost a pill, forgot to take it, or merely didn't want to have information technology, you're not alone. Most people have skipped or forgotten to have their birth control at some point. Yet, it'south important to remember that in social club for birth control to be effective at preventing pregnancy , it must be taken every bit prescribed.

Birth control delivered pills

So, what'due south next?

What happens if yous miss a day of nascence control?

The beginning stride is to non panic. Missing just 1 day of birth command is not the end of the earth, as y'all will still be protected from pregnancy if you have been taking it regularly. Take the missed pill every bit presently equally you call up that you forgot it. If that happens to be the next mean solar day, take it with your next pill (taking 2 pills at in one case is okay!).

What happens if you lot miss two days of birth control?

If you lot missed two pills, take both pills every bit soon as possible. Then, have the next two pills the next day and go along on with your regular one-pill-per-day routine afterward.

What happens if yous miss 3 days of birth control?

Iii missed pills could lead to you getting your menses and, more importantly, getting significant. If you're sexually agile , make certain to utilise a barrier birth control method like condoms. If you had penetrative intercourse in the previous five days, consider using emergency contraception .

What happens if you miss a calendar week of birth control?

Missing i week of birth control is more or less the equivalent of taking placebo pills for a week. You will likely get a period. If this happens, it's necessary to use an additional form of contraception in guild to prevent pregnancy, as you volition no longer be protected by the hormones in your pill. If you purposely skipped your pills because yous do non like your current prescription, consult a doctor ; at that place are dozens of dissimilar types of pills bachelor, so your physician tin help you lot discover an culling selection that works better for your torso and lifestyle.

Can skipping your flow prevent pregnancy?

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What's the takeaway?

What happens if you lot miss a solar day of nascence control?

The get-go step is to not panic. Missing merely ane day of birth control is non the cease of the world, as you will notwithstanding be protected from pregnancy if you have been taking information technology regularly. Take the missed pill every bit soon as you remember that you forgot it – if that happens to be the side by side day, take it with your next pill (taking two pills at once is okay!).

What happens if you miss two days of birth control?

If you missed 2 pills, take both pills as soon equally possible. And so, take the adjacent two pills the next day and continue on with your regular one-pill-per-day routine subsequently.

What happens if you miss three days of nativity command?

Iii missed pills could lead to you getting your catamenia and more importantly, getting meaning. If you're sexually active, brand certain to use a fill-in birth control similar condoms. If you had penetrative intercourse in the past v days, consider using emergency contraception.

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

Missing one week of birth control is most the equivalent of taking placebo pills for a week. Furthermore, you will probable get a period. If this happens, it is necessary to utilise an additional course of contraception in order to prevent pregnancy, as y'all will no longer exist protected past the hormones in your pill. If you purposely skipped your pills because you exercise non like your current prescription, consult a medico; they can help you find something that works amend for your body and lifestyle.

Can skipping your menstruum preclude pregnancy?

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Skipping your menses is possible when you lot take birth command. If you're on the pill, simply skip the terminal week (the placebo week or the week of no pills) and showtime your next pack right away. You lot can as well inquire your doc to prescribe y'all packs that do not incorporate placebo pills. If you are always on an active pill, your risk of becoming significant will decrease. With that said, it's important to remember that the pill lonely won't prevent the spread of STIs.

To acquire more about the benefits of skipping your menses with birth control, check out our #PeriodsOptional folio .

Now you know what happens when you miss a pill and how to make sure that yous forbid unplanned pregnancy!

How Can Pandia Help?

One of the acme reasons why women that women miss their pill is considering they've run out! Whether due to having no fourth dimension to run to the pharmacy or non beingness able to go a prescription renewed, running out of pills is a huge dilemma. Don't let this happen to yous.

So, fix information technology and forget it with Pandia Wellness , the most trusted provider for birth command commitment and the Simply doctor-led, women-led, and women-founded . Let united states worry about getting your birth control to y'all on fourth dimension, and then you don't have to. Sign upwardly today to get your prescription (new or onetime) delivered to your mailbox for FREE. You'll never run out of birth control on our watch.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I exercise if I lose a birth command pack?

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

Tin can you get pregnant if yous miss one pill?

It'southward non probable if yous've but missed 1! However, if you've missed iii days of pills, you are at risk of getting pregnant. Consider taking emergency contraception if you had sexual activity during those three days.

What happens if yous accept your nascency control late?

Yous volition be protected as long as you accept the combination nascency control pill within 5 hours on either side of the fourth dimension you took information technology the day before. However, it's recommended that you lot get into a routine of taking your pill at the same time every twenty-four hours. Progestin-only pills (minipill) should be taken at the aforementioned time every twenty-four hour period, as being off by even three hours can reduce the level of protection. Combination birth control pills tin can be off by +/- v five hours. Yet, it is a good idea to get into a routine of taking your pill at the same time every twenty-four hour period. Progestin-only pills (minipill), even so, should be taken at the same time every day, equally beingness off by three hours tin can reduce the level of protection.

Disclaimer: The higher up information is for full general informational purposes only and is Not a substitute for professional medical advice. Ever seek the communication of your doctor/primary care provider before starting or irresolute treatment.