Combined pill (COC)
| Situation | Advice |
|---|
| One pill missed (48–72 hours since last pill) | Take it now and continue. No extra precautions. |
| Two or more missed (over 72 hours) | Take the last missed pill now. Use condoms for 7 days. Emergency contraception may be needed, depending on the week of the pack. |
Progestogen-only pill (POP)
A traditional POP is missed if over 3 hours late (more than 27 hours since the last). Desogestrel has a 12-hour window (more than 36 hours).
Take a pill now and use condoms for 2 days. Consider emergency contraception if there was unprotected sex since the pill was missed.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if I miss one combined pill?
Take it as soon as you remember. No extra contraception is needed.
How late can a progestogen-only pill be?
3 hours for traditional POPs, 12 hours for desogestrel.
When is emergency contraception needed?
It depends on the pill type, how many were missed and when sex happened. This guide works it through.
References
- College of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (formerly FSRH). Combined hormonal contraception and progestogen-only pill guidance. cosrh.org
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