What if I miss taking my oral contraceptive pills?

There is no need to panic if you find that you have missed one or more of your oral contraceptive pills. There are steps you can take to restore the protective effects of the pill. This may depend on when you missed your pills and the number of pills you have missed, however. If you:

• missed taking your pills at the end or the beginning of the 21-day cycle - you extend what is known as the "hormone-free interval." If the hormone-free interval is more than 7 days, ovulation can occur and the possibility of pregnancy increases.
• forgot your pills in the 1st week of the 21-day cycle you will also increase the risk of ovulation.

What emergency measures are available in the event of missed pills?

The following information in this section is intended for U.S. Oral Contraceptives only.

If you miss 1 "active" (white) pill:

1. Take it as soon as you remember. Take the next pill at your regular time. This means you take 2 pills in one day.
2. You do not have to use a back-up method of birth control if you have sex.

If you miss 2 "active" (white) pills:

1. Take 2 pills on the day you remember and 2 pills the next day.
2. Then take 1 pill a day until you finish the pack.
3. You may become pregnant if you have sex in the 7 days after you miss pills.
4. You must use a back-up method of birth control such as condoms, spermicides or a contraceptive sponge for those 7 days.

If you miss 2 "active" (white) pills in a row in week 3:

1. If you are a Day 1 starter, throw out the rest of the pack and start a new pack that same day.
2. If you are a Sunday starter, keep taking 1 pill every day until Sunday. On Sunday, throw out the rest of the pack and start a new pack of pills that same day.
3. You may not have your period this month but this is expected. However, if you miss your period two months in a row, call your doctor or health care provider because you might be pregnant.
4. You may become pregnant if you have sex in the 7 days after you miss pills. You must use another form of birth control such as condoms, spermicides or a contraceptive sponge as a backup for those 7 days.

If you miss 3 or more "active (white) pills in a row (during the first 3 weeks):

1. If you are a Day 1 starter, throw out the rest of the pill pack and start a new pack that same day.
2. If you are a Sunday starter, keep taking 1 pill every day until Sunday. On Sunday, throw out the rest of the pack and start a new pack of pills that same day.
3. You may not have a period this month but this is expected. However, if you miss your period 2 months in a row, call your doctor or healthcare provider because you might be pregnant.
4. You may become pregnant if you have sex in the 7 days after you miss pills. You must use a back-up method of birth control such as condoms, spermicides or a contraceptive sponge for those 7 days.