Print options:
Other options:
This is a PatientPlus article. PatientPlus articles are written for doctors and so the language can be technical, however some people find that they add depth to the patient information leaflets. You may find the abbreviations record helpful.
Combined oral contraceptives1When a woman realises she has missed a pill:
- She should take the pill (active hormonal pill) as soon as possible and then resume her usual pill taking schedule.
- Taking two pills on same day or even at the same time is fine i.e. one when she remembers and next pill on time.
If only one 20 mcg or only two 30-35 mcg pills have been missed:- Take missed pill when remembered, second pill on time, no extra measures needed.
- Ensure that the pill free week is not lengthened - e.g. if last pill missed, start next packet a day early.
|
If she misses two 20 mcg, or three 30-35 mcg ethinylestradiol pills:- An alternative back-up method e.g. condom or abstinence is required for 7 days i.e. until seven active pills have been taken.
- If the missed pills are in the third week of active pills, the pill free week should be omitted - next packet started immediately without a gap.
- If pills missed in first week (effectively extending pill free interval) also consider need for emergency contraception - has she had intercourse since end of last packet?2
|
Progesterone-only contraceptivesWhen a woman realises she has missed a pill:
- She should take the missed pill as soon as she remembers and resume her usual pill taking schedule - even if this means taking two pills on same day i.e. one when she remembers and next pill on time.
- In addition, if pill is more than 3 hours late (12 hours with Cerazette3) an alternative back-up method e.g. condom should be used (or abstinence) for next 7 days, and consider need for emergency contraception if there was UPSI 2-3 days prior to the missed pills, or there has been intercourse since the missed pill(s).
|
NB: The patient requires the same advice as for a missed pill if vomiting occurs within 3-4 hours of taking a contraceptive pill.
Document references
- Missed Pills, Faculty of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care RCOG (2005)
- Emergency contraception, Faculty of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care RCOG (2006)
- Summary of Product Characteristics - Cerazette® 75 microgram film-coated tablet (desogestrel); Organon Laboratories Limited, Updated May 2004; electronic Medicines Compendium.
Internet and further reading
- WHO World Health Organization, 2004. Selected practice recommendations for contraceptive use .
- Contraception, Clinical Knowledge Summaries (2007)
Acknowledgements EMIS is grateful to Dr Hayley Willacy for writing this article and to Dr Huw Thomas for earlier versions. The final copy has passed scrutiny by the independent Mentor GP reviewing team. ©EMIS 2008.
DocID: 2460Document Version: 20
DocRef: bgp25030
Last Updated: 24 Dec 2007Review Date: 23 Dec 2009
The authors and editors of this article are employed to create accurate and up to date content reflecting reliable research evidence, guidance and best clinical practice. They are free from any commercial conflicts of interest. Find out more about updating.
Print options:
Other options:
Advert
Want to search some more? Use the Google Search box below to search our site.
Advertisements
Disclaimer: Patient UK has no control over the content of any external links above. Inclusion does not imply endorsement by Patient UK.
Want to advertise on this site? Find out how >>
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find a list of Information Leaflets which are related to the topic you are currently viewing
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find a list of Support Groups which are related to the topic you are currently viewing
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find a list of Medicines & Drugs which are related to the topic you are currently viewing
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find a list of diagrams which are related to the topic you are currently viewing
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find a list of PatientPlus (detailed reference) articles which are related to the topic you are currently viewing
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find a list of UK Guidelines which are related to the topic you are currently viewing
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find a list of other selected websites which are related to the topic you are currently viewing
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find a list of Poems and Stories which are related to the topic you are currently viewing
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find a list of Operations and Procedures which are related to the topic you are currently viewing
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find a list of Online Videos which are related to the topic you are currently viewing
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find links through to our interactive forum.
Here you can follow a link to view existing patient experiences on this subject, or to add your own
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find links to news stories on this subject in our Online Newspaper
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find links to related products
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find links to other useful sources of information
Click here to open a printer-friendly version of this document, in a new window, together with the print dialogue box
Click here to open this document in PDF format
This will offer you the usual PDF options i.e. document navigation, search, zoom and formatted print
Note: this is the best way to print the document
Click here to listen to the MP3 audio recording of this document
Click here to download the audio recording of this document as a podcast, for listening to at your leisure
Click here to open our Dictionaries and Glossaries page
Click here to see related products in our Online Pharmacy
Note: this will open in a new window
Click here to add this page to a social bookmarking site of your choice
Click here if you want to find out more about social bookmarking. This link will take you to the Wikipedia explanation
Note: this will open in a new window
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find a list of Information Leaflets which are related to the topic you are currently viewing
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find a list of Support Groups which are related to the topic you are currently viewing
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find a list of Medicines & Drugs which are related to the topic you are currently viewing
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find a list of diagrams which are related to the topic you are currently viewing
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find a list of PatientPlus (detailed reference) articles which are related to the topic you are currently viewing
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find a list of UK Guidelines which are related to the topic you are currently viewing
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find a list of other selected websites which are related to the topic you are currently viewing
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find a list of Poems and Stories which are related to the topic you are currently viewing
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find a list of Operations and Procedures which are related to the topic you are currently viewing
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find a list of Online Videos which are related to the topic you are currently viewing
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find links through to our interactive forum.
Here you can follow a link to view existing patient experiences on this subject, or to add your own
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find links to news stories on this subject in our Online Newspaper
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find links to related products
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find links to other useful sources of information
Click here to open a printer-friendly version of this document, in a new window, together with the print dialogue box
Click here to open this document in PDF format
This will offer you the usual PDF options i.e. document navigation, search, zoom and formatted print
Note: this is the best way to print the document
Click here to listen to the MP3 audio recording of this document
Click here to download the audio recording of this document as a podcast, for listening to at your leisure
Click here to open our Dictionaries and Glossaries page
Click here to see related products in our Online Pharmacy
Note: this will open in a new window
Click here to add this page to a social bookmarking site of your choice
Click here if you want to find out more about social bookmarking. This link will take you to the Wikipedia explanation
Note: this will open in a new window