What Happens If You Miss 2 Birth Control Pills

Medically reviewed past Sophia Yen, Medico, MPH – Written by Pandia Health Editorial Squad. Updated on February xi, 2021

You know that feeling of momentary panic when yous realize y'all've forgotten to accept your birth control pill? It'due south like when y'all lose your wallet, keys, or phone, but the consequence is potentially getting pregnant Not fun!

Thankfully, you have some leeway if yous miss a regular nativity control pill. Read on to learn more about what happens if y'all miss your pill and the course of action you should take to get back on runway .

How many agile pills in a row have you taken?

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

I've missed one to 5 pills

When you lot continually use the nativity command pill, patch, or band, your hormone levels remain stable for those three weeks that you are taking the active medication. A withdrawal bleed occurs when those hormonal levels drop, commonly because you've entered the placebo week or have missed three or more pills in a row.

Previously, birth control pills contained 100 micrograms of hormones, whereas today, nearly pills comprise xx-35 micrograms . When the microgram level was higher, the week of placebo pills was deemed necessary considering the hormones in the active pills stayed in the trunk longer. However, at present that in that location are fewer micrograms of hormones in the pill, taking the daily dose is especially of import for increasing efficacy and preventing pregnancy . If you take taken your agile pills regularly prior to the placebo week, you lot should still be protected during this time.

Let's say yous miss five days of your birth control pills in a row. In this scenario, y'all've essentially approximated the placebo week! Depending on the type of birth control pill you're on, the period you take the saccharide pills (placebo pills) tin final anywhere from four to seven days. This is not a problem if you've already taken three weeks of active pills in a row leading up to this point, equally the hormones will nevertheless be active in your body and working to prevent pregnancy.

However, if you're only on the first, second, or third week of your pill pack and you haven't taken a pill for 3 to five days in a row, you may not be protected from pregnancy. Furthermore, if you plan to take heterosexual sex, you should use an external barrier such as condoms . Not only volition this provide extra protection from pregnancy, just it will also forestall the spread of STIs between you and your partner.

I've missed more than five pills

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

TL;DR: If you've missed five or more days of birth command and want to have sex, yous should use a backup class of contraception as you are at run a risk of getting pregnant. Additionally, if y'all realize that you skipped a birth command pill in the days after you had sex, it may be a good idea to use emergency contraception such as Ella or Program B.

What type of pill are you on?

The effects of skipping your birth control tin vary depending on which type you are taking . If you're not certain, there is a combination pill (which contains both estrogen and progesterone ) and a "mini" pill (which contains but progesterone).

I'yard on the mini pill

If you're using the mini pill and are at least three hours belatedly to take it on a certain day, here'due south what you demand to do:

Apply a backup method if you plan on having sex in the next three days
Use emergency contraception if you had sexual activity in the previous three days before missing your pill

I'one thousand on the combination pill

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

If you've missed one pill: take the last pill you missed as before long as possible, even if this means taking 2 pills in 1 day
If you've missed two or more: take the last pill you missed as soon as possible, carry on taking the rest of the pack equally usual, and employ a bulwark method such as condoms to preclude pregnancy if you have sexual activity in the adjacent calendar week. You may also need to use emergency contraception if you missed more than one pill in the starting time calendar week of your pack and had unprotected sex.

Whether you lost a pill, forgot to accept it, or simply didn't desire to accept it, you're not alone. Most people take skipped or forgotten to take their nativity control at some indicate. Notwithstanding, it's important to recall that in club for birth control to be effective at preventing pregnancy , it must be taken as prescribed.

And so, what's next?

What happens if you miss a day of birth control?

The starting time step is to non panic. Missing only one day of nativity control is non the end of the earth, as you lot volition withal be protected from pregnancy if y'all have been taking it regularly. Take the missed pill as soon as you lot remember that you forgot it. If that happens to be the next 24-hour interval, take it with your next pill (taking two pills at once is okay!).

What happens if you miss two days of birth control?

If you missed two pills, take both pills as shortly as possible. And then, have the next two pills the next day and proceed on with your regular ane-pill-per-twenty-four hours routine afterward.

What happens if you miss 3 days of birth control?

Three missed pills could lead to you getting your period and, more importantly, getting pregnant. If you're sexually active , make certain to use a bulwark birth control method like condoms. If you had penetrative intercourse in the previous five days, consider using emergency contraception .

What happens if y'all miss a calendar week of nascence control?

Missing one week of birth control is more or less the equivalent of taking placebo pills for a week. Yous will likely get a period. If this happens, information technology's necessary to employ an additional class of contraception in order to prevent pregnancy, as you will no longer exist protected by the hormones in your pill. If you purposely skipped your pills because you practice not like your current prescription, consult a physician ; at that place are dozens of different types of pills available, so your doc tin can aid you find an culling option that works better for your body and lifestyle.

Tin can skipping your flow prevent pregnancy?

What's the takeaway?

What happens if yous miss a twenty-four hour period of nascency control?

The first step is to not panic. Missing merely 1 day of birth control is not the finish of the world, equally you volition still be protected from pregnancy if you have been taking it regularly. Have the missed pill as soon every bit you think that y'all forgot it – if that happens to exist the next day, take it with your adjacent pill (taking two pills at once is okay!).

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

If you lot missed ii pills, take both pills as soon every bit possible. Then, take the next two pills the next day and continue on with your regular 1-pill-per-twenty-four hours routine after.

What happens if y'all miss 3 days of nascency control?

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

What happens if you miss a week of nascency control?

Missing one week of birth control is about the equivalent of taking placebo pills for a calendar week. Furthermore, you lot will likely get a menstruation. If this happens, information technology is necessary to utilise an additional form of contraception in social club to preclude pregnancy, as you volition no longer be protected past the hormones in your pill. If y'all purposely skipped your pills considering you do not like your current prescription, consult a doctor; they tin help you lot notice something that works better for your body and lifestyle.

Can skipping your period forestall pregnancy?

Skipping your menses is possible when you take nascence control. If you're on the pill, simply skip the last week (the placebo week or the week of no pills) and offset your next pack correct away. Y'all tin also inquire your md to prescribe you packs that practise not contain placebo pills. If yous are e'er on an active pill, your chance of becoming pregnant volition decrease. With that said, it's important to call up that the pill lonely won't prevent the spread of STIs.

To learn more nearly the benefits of skipping your period with nativity control, check out our #PeriodsOptional page .

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

How Can Pandia Help?

One of the height reasons why women that women miss their pill is because they've run out! Whether due to having no fourth dimension to run to the pharmacy or not being able to go a prescription renewed, running out of pills is a huge dilemma. Don't let this happen to yous.

So, set up it and forget information technology with Pandia Health , the most trusted provider for birth control delivery and the ONLY doctor-led, women-led, and women-founded . Let us worry about getting your birth control to you on time, so you don't have to. Sign upward today to get your prescription (new or erstwhile) delivered to your mailbox for FREE. Y'all'll never run out of nativity control on our sentry.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I practise if I lose a birth control pack?

Dr. Sophia Yen, CEO and co-founder of Pandia Health, notes that you should contact your pharmacy and ask for a replacement pack. Most insurance volition cover it; if non, it'south generally effectually $15/pack.

Tin you get pregnant if you miss ane pill?

It's not likely if you've merely missed one! Nevertheless, if you've missed three days of pills, yous are at chance of getting pregnant. Consider taking emergency contraception if you had sexual practice during those iii days.

What happens if you have your nativity command late?

Yous will be protected as long as you have the combination nascency control pill within 5 hours on either side of the time you took it the day earlier. Even so, information technology's recommended that yous get into a routine of taking your pill at the aforementioned time every twenty-four hour period. Progestin-just pills (minipill) should be taken at the aforementioned fourth dimension every 24-hour interval, as being off by even three hours can reduce the level of protection. Combination birth command pills tin be off by +/- 5 5 hours. Still, it is a good idea to get into a routine of taking your pill at the same fourth dimension every twenty-four hour period. Progestin-only pills (minipill), however, should exist taken at the aforementioned time every twenty-four hours, as beingness off by three hours can reduce the level of protection.

Disclaimer: The higher up information is for general informational purposes just and is Not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor/principal care provider before starting or changing handling.