What To Do When You Miss A Pill

If you are late taking a birth control pill, take your “late” pill as soon as you remember it. If you miss a pill by a whole day (24 hours or more), use this chart to find out what to do.

Missed one pill?

How many pills to take and how to protect yourself if you miss one birth control pill

Week

How many pills to take

How to protect yourself

1

Take 2 pills as soon as possible.

Use condoms for the next 7 days.

Take the emergency contraceptive pill (Plan B) if you’ve had unprotected sex in the last five days or if you have unprotected sex in the next 7 days.

You are not protected from pregnancy until you take your birth control every day for 7 days.

2 or 3

Take 2 pills as soon as possible.

Finish your package.

You don’t need extra protection or the emergency contraceptive pill.

4
(if your package has 28 pills)

None.

Start your next package on time.

No extra protection needed. These pills are inactive.
If you start your next package late, use condoms for 7 days.

Missed more than one pill?

  • Take two pills as soon as possible and continue taking your pills as usual.
  • Use a condom for the next seven days.
  • Take the emergency contraceptive pill (Plan B) if you’ve had unprotected sex in the last five days.
  • If you have unprotected sex in the seven days after you miss pills, take the emergency contraceptive pill (Plan B).

Still need help?

Call us at 1-800-265-7293 ext. 7006.

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