missed a pill what do I do?

[AnnMarie]

Hi

I've been on the 21 day contreceptive pill for a month, I take the type where you take a pill every day for 21 days then have a break for 7 days. I was due my last pill last night and due to start my break today. I forgot to take it and was more than 12 hours late. I'm not sure what to do, whether to have the break as normal or start my new pack right away. I'm also not sure if I'm protected or not. The info leaflet isn't very clear.

Help!
Ann Marie

[Faith]

Just carry on and have the 7 day break like normal. If you have sex use protection.

[lisa simpson's saxophone]

Hmm well I would have said take the missed pill, go straight onto the next pack, and use condoms for the next 7 days. But I can also see where Faith's coming from. However, I THINK that if you miss any pills, you're supposed to use condoms for the next 7 days, and if this 7 days runs over the end of your pack then you're supposed to take the next pack without a break. So that's what I'd do if I were you. But I'm not sure, I can see how it might be confusing.

[lisa simpson's saxophone]

Originally posted by AnnMarie
I'm also not sure if I'm protected or not.

Oh and no, if you miss a pill, you're not protected. Regardless of where it is in your cycle. So you need to use condoms or not have sex for 7 days.

[~kaz~]

yeah as long as ur not having sex in ur break ur ok but if u r then you have 2 use condoms coz ur not protected

[**grunge gurl**]

Originally posted by *lil~miss*
yeah as long as ur not having sex in ur break ur ok but if u r then you have 2 use condoms coz ur not protected

I thought that if you took your pills correctly then u were protected in the 7 day break? :confused: Maybe I am wrong...?

[~kaz~]

thts right but she missed a pill so therefore isnt protected

[go_away]

I've looked in the combined pill booklet I was given, and if it has been more than 12 hours, you should use extra protection for the next 7 days. It also depends on how many pills are left in the pack. I don't want to leave you confused, so I'm just going to write down exactly what's written there:

How many pills are left in the pack after the missed pill?

7 or more pills
When you have finished the pack, leave the usual 7 day break before you start the next pack

Less than 7 pills
When you have finished the pack, start your next pack the next day. Do not have the usual 7 day break.

I hope this helps :)

[Nicki]

The contraceptive pill should be taken at the same time each day, but is regarded as 'missed' if it is taken more than 12 hours late (3 hours late for the 'mini-pill'). If this happens, take a pill as soon as you can, then another at the usual time, (even if this means taking more than one pill in one day).

* If more than one pill is missed, the last missed pill should be taken and the rest of the packet taken at the normal time. However, alternative contraception (such a condoms) should also be used for 7 days afterwards, just to be on the safe side.
* If you miss a pill and there are less than 7 pills left in the pack, the course should be finished as usual and a new packet started immediately afterwards without a break.

[spanner]

Lots of sound advice here, but try to remember that all pills work differently - there is no hard and fast rule, so it's always a good idea to double check with your GP if you don't understand the leaflet. Generally, though, you are covered for the seven day break providing that you haven't missed any pills, and if you have you should always use condoms for at least seven days afterwards.

[Jowolvo]

Ok not to sound really thick here but the using condoms for 7 days..why 7?
Just wondering!
:confused:

[Sa-ra-ra-ra]

because it takes 7 days to build up a hormonal resistance, i think, and to make sure that you aren't at any chance for getting pregnant.

When you first go on the pill, you start it on the first day of your period - the first day you BLEED. This means that the pill should stop you ovulating, and if there's no egg, there's no baby :) If you don't start it then, it takes 7 days to build up the hostility to the womb to any egg, and thicken the cervical mucus. I think.

I am just hypothesising here, i don't actually know. But that seems to make sense...

[Jowolvo]

yeh that sorta makes sense to me! I just couldnt think it thru...lil miss illogical here!;)