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

You know that feeling of momentary panic when y'all realize you've forgotten to take your nativity control pill? It'southward like when you lose your wallet, keys, or phone, but the consequence is potentially getting meaning Not fun!

Thankfully, you take some leeway if you lot miss a regular nativity control pill. Read on to larn more about what happens if you miss your pill and the course of action you should take to get back on runway .

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How many active pills in a row take you taken?

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

I've missed one to five pills

When you lot continually utilize the birth control pill, patch, or ring, your hormone levels remain stable for those iii weeks that you are taking the agile medication. A withdrawal bleed occurs when those hormonal levels drib, usually considering yous've entered the placebo week or have missed three or more pills in a row.

Previously, birth control pills independent 100 micrograms of hormones, whereas today, most pills contain 20-35 micrograms . When the microgram level was higher, the calendar week of placebo pills was deemed necessary considering the hormones in the active pills stayed in the torso longer. Still, now that there are fewer micrograms of hormones in the pill, taking the daily dose is particularly important for increasing efficacy and preventing pregnancy . If you have taken your agile pills regularly prior to the placebo calendar week, you lot should still be protected during this time.

Let's say you miss five days of your birth control pills in a row. In this scenario, you lot've essentially approximated the placebo week! Depending on the type of birth control pill you're on, the period y'all take the sugar pills (placebo pills) can last anywhere from four to seven days. This is not a trouble if yous've already taken 3 weeks of active pills in a row leading up to this point, every bit the hormones will still exist agile in your body and working to prevent pregnancy.

However, if y'all're only on the offset, 2nd, or third week of your pill pack and you haven't taken a pill for three to five days in a row, you may not be protected from pregnancy. Furthermore, if you lot programme to have heterosexual sex, y'all should utilize an external barrier such every bit condoms . Not only volition this provide actress protection from pregnancy, but information technology will as well prevent the spread of STIs between yous and your partner.

I've missed more five pills

If you go more than seven days without the hormone, then you chance ovulation occurring — this is when an egg travels from your ovaries to your uterus for fertilization — therefore increasing the gamble of pregnancy. Nevertheless, this can happen quicker for women who accept a loftier BMI (weight-to-elevation ratio) every bit this can lead to quicker ovulation; women who are overweight may experience ovulation just 5 days after being off of the pill, patch, or ring.

TL;DR: If you lot've missed v or more than days of birth control and want to take sex, you should use a backup form of contraception as you lot are at gamble of getting significant. Additionally, if you realize that y'all skipped a nascence control pill in the days afterward you had sex, it may be a expert idea to use emergency contraception such as Ella or Plan B.

What type of pill are yous on?

The effects of skipping your birth control can vary depending on which type you 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 y'all're using the mini pill and are at least 3 hours late to take it on a certain 24-hour interval, hither'southward what you need to practice:

  • Use a backup method if you plan on having sex in the side by side three days

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

I'm on the combination pill

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

  • If you've missed one pill: have the last pill you missed as soon as possible, even if this ways taking ii pills in 1 day

  • If y'all've missed two or more: have the last pill you missed equally shortly as possible, behave on taking the rest of the pack as usual, and use a barrier method such equally condoms to forbid pregnancy if you have sex in the side by side week. You may also demand to employ emergency contraception if you missed more than than one pill in the kickoff week of your pack and had unprotected sex.

Whether you lost a pill, forgot to take information technology, or simply didn't want to take it, y'all're not solitary. Near people take skipped or forgotten to take their nascency control at some point. However, it'southward important to recall that in social club for birth control to be constructive at preventing pregnancy , it must be taken as prescribed.

Birth control delivered pills

So, what'due south next?

What happens if you miss a twenty-four hour period of birth control?

The outset footstep is to not panic. Missing but one day of birth command is not the end of the world, as you volition nonetheless be protected from pregnancy if you have been taking it regularly. Take the missed pill as soon as you remember that you forgot it. If that happens to be the next twenty-four hours, take information technology with your next pill (taking ii pills at once is okay!).

What happens if you miss two days of birth command?

If you missed 2 pills, take both pills as presently as possible. And so, have the next two pills the next day and go on on with your regular i-pill-per-day routine subsequently.

What happens if you miss three days of nascency command?

3 missed pills could lead to you getting your period and, more importantly, getting meaning. If yous're sexually active , make certain to apply a barrier birth control method like condoms. If you lot had penetrative intercourse in the previous five days, consider using emergency contraception .

What happens if you miss a week of birth control?

Missing one week of birth control is more or less the equivalent of taking placebo pills for a calendar week. You lot will likely get a period. If this happens, it's necessary to use an additional grade of contraception in guild to foreclose pregnancy, as you will no longer be protected by the hormones in your pill. If you purposely skipped your pills because you lot practice not like your current prescription, consult a doctor ; there are dozens of different types of pills available, so your doctor can help you lot detect an alternative option that works better for your body and lifestyle.

Can skipping your menses prevent pregnancy?

I was sabotaged by my baby box

What's the takeaway?

What happens if you miss a day of birth control?

The get-go stride is to not panic. Missing just one day of birth control is not the end of the world, as y'all volition still exist protected from pregnancy if yous have been taking it regularly. Take the missed pill as soon as yous call back that y'all forgot it – if that happens to be the adjacent day, accept it with your next pill (taking two pills at once is okay!).

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

If you missed 2 pills, have both pills every bit soon every bit possible. So, have the next two pills the side by side day and continue on with your regular one-pill-per-day routine afterwards.

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

Iii missed pills could pb to you getting your period and more importantly, getting pregnant. If you're sexually active, make certain to utilize a backup birth control like condoms. If you had penetrative intercourse in the past five days, consider using emergency contraception.

What happens if you miss a week of nascence control?

Missing one week of nascence command is most 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 prevent pregnancy, as you volition no longer be protected by the hormones in your pill. If you purposely skipped your pills because you do not similar your current prescription, consult a doctor; they tin help you detect something that works better for your body and lifestyle.

Can skipping your menstruum prevent pregnancy?

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Skipping your period is possible when yous take birth control. If y'all're on the pill, simply skip the last week (the placebo week or the calendar week of no pills) and starting time your next pack correct away. Y'all can also ask your doctor to prescribe yous packs that do not contain placebo pills. If you are e'er on an active pill, your adventure of becoming pregnant will decrease. With that said, it'due south of import to remember that the pill alone won't prevent the spread of STIs.

To learn more than well-nigh the benefits of skipping your period with nascence control, check out our #PeriodsOptional page .

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

How Can Pandia Help?

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

Then, gear up it and forget it with Pandia Health , the most trusted provider for birth command commitment and the Merely doctor-led, women-led, and women-founded . Permit united states worry about getting your birth control to you on time, so y'all don't take to. Sign up today to go your prescription (new or one-time) delivered to your mailbox for Free. Yous'll never run out of birth control on our sentry.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Dr. Sophia Yen, CEO and co-founder of Pandia Health, notes that y'all should contact your pharmacy and inquire for a replacement pack. Most insurance will cover information technology; if not, information technology's more often than not around $15/pack.

Can y'all get meaning if you miss 1 pill?

It's not likely if you've just missed one! However, if you've missed three 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 you take your birth control belatedly?

You will be protected as long as you take the combination nascence control pill inside 5 hours on either side of the time yous took information technology the mean solar day earlier. All the same, it's recommended that yous get into a routine of taking your pill at the aforementioned time every day. Progestin-only pills (minipill) should exist taken at the aforementioned time every day, as beingness off by even 3 hours can reduce the level of protection. Combination nascency control pills tin be off by +/- 5 five hours. Yet, information technology is a good idea to get into a routine of taking your pill at the aforementioned time every day. Progestin-only pills (minipill), still, should be taken at the same time every day, as being off by iii hours tin can reduce the level of protection.

Disclaimer: The above data is for full general informational purposes merely and is NOT a substitute for professional person medical communication. E'er seek the communication of your doctor/chief care provider before starting or changing treatment.