Forgotten to take the pill

Pill with stop week

Less than 12 hours late taking the pill

• Take the forgotten pill right away.
• Continue with the rest of the strip as usual.
• No additional precautions are needed.

More than 12 hours late taking the pill 

I forgot to take one pill:

• Take the missed pill as soon as you remember, even if this means taking two pills at once.
• Continue with the rest of the strip as usual.
• No additional precautions are required.

I forgot to take 2 or 3 pills (in a row or separately):

What you need to do depends on where you are in the pack:

Day 1-7 (week 1)

• Take the missed pill as soon as you remember and the pill of the day as usual.
• Continue with the rest of the strip as usual.
• Use a condom for the next seven days when having sex.
•  If you've had unprotected sex in the 5 days before the missed pill, you need to take the emergency pill.

Day 8-14 (week 2)

• Take the missed pill as soon as you remember and the pill of the day as usual.
• Continue with the rest of the strip as usual.
• No additional precautions are required.

Day 15-21 (week 3) – you have two options:

First option:
You stop taking the pill for seven days (to be counted from the first missed pill). After this stop week, you start a new strip.

Second option: 
Take the last missed pill right away and the pill of the day as usual. Continue with the strip as usual. Skip the pill-free week. Start a new strip. 

No additional precautions are required whatever the option you choose.

I missed 4 or more pills (in a row or separately):

Continue with the pack. Consult your doctor and use a condom in the meantime. If you had unprotected sex in the 5 days previous to the first missed pill, you need to take the emergency pill.

Pill without stop week

What if I am less than 24 hours late taking the pill?

• Take the missed pill right away.
• Continue with the strip as usual.

What if I am more than 24 hours late taking the pill?

Day 1-7

• If you had unprotected sex up to 7 days previous to the first missed pill, you’re no longer protected from pregnancy and you should take the emergency pill.
• Take the forgotten pill right away even if this means taking two pills at once.
• Continue with the strip as usual.
• Use a condom for 7 days when having sex.

Day 8-14

• Take the forgotten pill right away even if this means taking two pills at once.
• Continue with the strip as usual.
• If you have missed only one pill, you don't have to do anything else.
• If you have missed more than one pill, use a condom for 7 days when having sex.

Day 15-24

Option 1:

• Take the forgotten pill right away even if this means taking two pills at once.
• Continue with the strip as usual.
• Discard the four placebo or hormone-free pills.
• Start a new strip the day after the last hormone pill.
• You won't get a period.

Option 2:

• Stop taking the active hormone pills.
• Take the placebo or hormone-free pills for 4 days.
• Start a new strip.

If you forget pills every month, the pill is not the appropriate birth-control method of contraception for you. Discuss other contraceptive methods with your doctor.