Took your pill late and wondering whether it’s safe to have sex with your partner? We got you.
It depends on the type of pill you’re taking. Other variables, such as how late you take it and where you are in the pack, matter too.
| Last pill taken less than 24 hours ago | Last pill taken 24 to 48 hours ago | Last pill taken 48+ hours ago | |
|---|---|---|---|
| During the first week of the pack | Combo pill: You’re protected! Continue taking your pills as usual. Minipill: Take a pill as soon as you remember — only one pill, even if you missed more than one. Take the next pill at the usual time, even if it means taking two on the same day. Use a backup birth control method for the next 48 hours. | Combo pill: Take your next pill ASAP, and continue taking your pills as usual. Minipill: Follow the same instructions as if you took your last pill less than 24 hours ago (in the top left square of this table). | Combo pill: Take the most recent missed pill. Toss any other missed pills. Continue taking the rest of your pack as usual, even if it means taking two on the same day. Minipill: Follow the same instructions as if you took your last pill less than 24 hours ago (in the top left square of this table). |
| During the second week of the pack | Combo pill: You’re protected! Continue taking your pills as usual. Minipill: Follow the same instructions as for the first week of the pack (in the top left square of this table). | Combo pill: Take your next pill ASAP, and continue taking your pills as usual. Minipill: Follow the same instructions as for the first week of the pack (in the top left square of this table). | Combo pill: Take the most recent missed pill. Toss any other missed pills. Continue taking the rest of your pack as usual, even if it means taking two on the same day. Minipill: Follow the same instructions as for the first week of the pack (in the top left square of this table). |
| During the third week of the pack | Combo pill: You’re protected! Continue taking your pills as usual. Minipill: Follow the same instructions as for the first week of the pack (in the top left square of this table). | Combo pill: Take your next pill ASAP, and continue taking your pills as usual. Minipill: Follow the same instructions as for the first week of the pack (in the top left square of this table). | Combo pill: Skip the inactive pills by finishing the hormonal pills in your current pack. Start a new pack the next day. Minipill: Follow the same instructions as for the first week of the pack (in the top left square of this table). |
| During the fourth week of the pack | Combo pill: You’re protected! Continue taking your pills as usual. Minipill: Follow the same instructions as for the first week of the pack (in the top left square of this table). | Combo pill: You’re protected! Continue taking your pills as usual. Minipill: Follow the same instructions as for the first week of the pack (in the top left square of this table). | Combo pill: You’re protected! Continue taking your pills as usual. Minipill: Follow the same instructions as for the first week of the pack (in the top left square of this table). |
That depends on the type. If you take combination birth control pills, a pill that’s taken more than 24 hours after your last pill is considered late.
With progestin-only pills (aka the minipill), taking a pill more than 3 hours after the usual time counts as late.
To confirm your pill’s protection window, read the information on the packaging or check with your local pharmacist or other healthcare professional.
It depends on how late.
If you’re still within your pill’s protection window (less than 3 hours for the minipill and less than 24 hours for combo pills), take your missed pill as soon as you remember, and take the next pill as usual — even if it means taking two on the same day.
If you’re past the protection window and you missed a pill, the next steps depend on the pill type and how many pills you’ve missed.
Combination pill
As long as you’ve been consistent otherwise, you should still be protected if you’re late by 24 to 48 hours. Take your next pill ASAP, and continue taking your pills as usual.
If more than 48 hours have passed since the missed pill(s):
- Take the most recent missed pill.
- Toss any other missed pills.
- Continue taking the rest of your pack as usual, even if it means taking two pills on the same day.
If you missed pills in the last week of hormonal pills:
- Finish the hormonal pills in your current pack.
- Skip the placebo pills and start a new pack the next day.
Minipill
If more than 3 hours have passed since the missed pill(s):
- Take a pill as soon as you remember — only one pill, even if you’ve missed more than one.
- Take the next pill at the usual time, even if it means taking two on the same day (one when you remember, and the other at the usual time).
- Use a backup birth control method for 48 hours after taking your missed pill if you have penis-in-vagina (P-in-V) sex. It takes that long for the minipill to build up your cervical mucus again.
If you’re waiting for a refill and can’t get back on track right away, use a backup method of birth control if you plan on having P-in-V sex.
The general rule is to use backup birth control until you’ve taken:
- combination pills for 7 consecutive days
- minipills for 2 consecutive days
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Unless you already have a diaphragm to fall back on, condoms are the best way to go, because they’re accessible (as in easy to get and don’t require a doctor’s appointment) and effective when used correctly.
You can use external or internal condoms and beef up pregnancy prevention by also using a spermicide gel or foam.
The sponge is another backup method.
If you’re taking combination birth control pills and you missed pills early in the cycle or late in your previous cycle, taking emergency contraception (EC), such as the morning-after pill, might be a good idea. If you can, reach out to your local clinic or another healthcare professional for advice.
If you had P-in-V sex (without a backup method) after being more than 48 hours late or missing two pills and you don’t want to become pregnant, you might want to go to a clinic or pharmacy for EC.
If you had P-in-V sex (without a backup method) within 48 hours of being late taking a minipill, get EC.
Taking your birth control at the same time every day is recommended, but you do have some leeway.
How long birth control pills remain effective (when you forget a pill) varies between pill types, so be sure to read the information provided in the pack or by your healthcare professional.
If you’re already late — even very late — you still have options.
Adrienne Santos-Longhurst is a Canada-based freelance writer and author who has written extensively on all things health and lifestyle for more than a decade. When she’s not holed-up in her writing shed researching an article or off interviewing health professionals, she can be found frolicking around her beach town with husband and dogs in tow or splashing about the lake trying to master the stand-up paddle board.