September 8, 2017 |

Forgot to Take Your Birth Control Pill? Here’s What to Do

Don’t freak out: Just follow these steps.

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Even the most organized and responsible among us forget to take the Pill once in awhile. Setting a daily timer on your phone helps, but stuff happens. Real talk: This is a big deal. After all, it’s the primary reason some women get pregnant while they take the Pill.

So what should you do if you forget to take a birth control pill to prevent pregnancy?

Here’s what to do for a combined hormone pill, which means it contains both estrogen and progestin, according to ob-gyn Kecia Gaither, MD.

Take the missed pill as soon as possible. Then, stay on track with the remaining pills, even if it means taking two at once.

If the pill you missed is in the first week of your pack, use a backup method (like condoms) for the next seven days.

If you’ve missed two or more pills, use a backup method until you’ve been taking the Pill consistently for at least seven days.

Missed a placebo pills at the end of the pack? It’s no biggie if you skip those. (They’re really just a sugar pill to keep you in the habit of taking a pill at the same time every day.)

For a progestin-only pill, the process is a little different.

If you miss your scheduled time by more than three hours, you’ll need to use a backup method like condoms or take a break from sex for the next two days. Take the next pill as soon as possible and continue taking the following pills as scheduled.

If you’re worried about an accidental pregnancy, don’t hesitate to talk with your doctor about emergency contraception. Oh, and if you’re constantly forgetting to take your birth control pill, you may want to consider a more long-acting form of contraception, like an implant, shot, or IUD.

Reviewed by: Mera Goodman, MD. Review date: January 5, 2021