Birth control pills are a popular form of contraception that needs to be ingested at the same time, every day for as long as you are prescribed to be on “the pill”. Although, it may be easy to form the habit of taking your pill every day at the same time, by setting an alarm, what happens if you forget? Don’t panic, here are some things to understand if you’ve missed your birth control pill, or took it late.
The 2 Types of Birth Control Pills
The first type of birth control pills are called Combination Pills, which both contain estrogen and progesterone. The second type of birth control pills are progesterone-only pills, which do not contain any estrogen.
Between the 2 types, the most common of the birth control pill are combination pills. If you're unsure if your pills are combination birth control pills or progesterone-only birth control pills. Here are a few brands of pills that are widely available in the Philippines (upon prescription).
Combination Pills:
- Charlize (EE 30mcg + LNG 150mcg x 21 then Ferrous Fumarate x 7)
- Lady (EE 30mcg + LNG 150mcg x 21 then placebo x 7)
- Trust Pill (EE 30mcg + LNG 125mcg x 21 and 7 Ferrous Fumarate tablets)
- Althea (EE 35mcg + CPA 2mg x 21)
- Cybelle (EE 35mcg + CPA 2mg x 21)
- Diane-35 (EE 35mcg + CPA 2mg x 21)
- Lizelle (EE 20mcg + Drospirenone 3mg x 28)
- Yasmin (EE 30 mcg + Drospirenone 3mg x 21)
- Yaz (EE 20mcg + Drospirenone 3mg x 28)
Progesterone-only Pills:
-
Daphne (Lynestrenol 500mcg x 28)
What to do if you missed your birth control pill?
-
Missed One Pill (Combination Pill):
Once you’ve realized that you’ve forgotten to take your pill, immediately take it, even if it means taking 2 pills in one day. Continue taking the rest of your birth control pills in the pack as scheduled.
- Missed One Pill (Progesterone-only pill):
If you’re more or less than 3 hours late to take your progesterone-only pill, simply take the missed pill as soon as you remember to take it.
- Missed Multiple Pills:
For combination pills, if you've missed multiple pills, follow the specific instructions provided in your pill package or consult your OBGYN. You may need to discard the rest of the pack and use a backup method of birth control.
For progesterone-only pills, take your missed pill as soon as you remember and use a backup method of birth control for the next 7 days.
It’s important to note, that whether you have missed one pill, or multiple pills regardless of the type, it is advisable to use a backup method of birth control such as condoms to reduce any risk of pregnancy. You may also resort to emergency contraceptives to further reduce any risk of pregnancy.
What are popular methods of emergency contraception?
A popular method of emergency contraception is the morning after pill. It is a form of contraceptive taken no later than 72 hours after having unprotected sex. However, the morning after pill will only delay ovulation, making it less effective, if taken after your ovulation day.
Aside from the morning after pill, another popular method of emergency contraception is called the Yupze method. This method entails taking a higher dosage of pills to prevent ovulation, just like the morning-after pill, this method will only delay ovulation and will be less effective if taken after your ovulation day. A consultation with an OB-GYN is required before doing the Yupze method so your doctor can advise you on the specific dosage needed.
Do you forget to take your birth control pills often?
That’s fine! Birth control pills may simply not fit your lifestyle preferences, there are other forms of contraceptives that you can take. There are IUDs, implants, and injectable contraceptives, which are lower maintenance as the birth control is inserted, or injected into your body. This means you do not have to set an alarm every day to take your birth control pill. If you feel that another form of contraception is better suited for you, consult an OB-GYN to discuss your options.
Last medically reviewed on December 16, 2024.