The contraceptive pill is one of the most used resources as a preventive method of pregnancies in women. Sometimes, a mistake can cause you not to remember if you have taken the oral contraceptive, or if you have forgotten to take them on a trip and you have not taken them for several days. In Spain, the pill is the most consumed method after the condom; although there are numerous types of Oral Hormal Contraception, among which minimal side effects, good tolerability and great efficacy are sought.
Logically, to enjoy maximum efficiency it is mandatory to be strict with its use. It is important that the medical professional who advises you to take the pills informs you at the beginning of the treatment, as well as all the possible situations that may arise during their use.
As you well know, the first intake should be taken coinciding with the first day of menstruation, and continuing with 1 tablet a day for 21 or 28 days (if those last tablets do not contain hormones), ensuring that it is always at the same time.
What to do if you forget to take it?
For many of us, forgetting to take the pill has happened to us, because we were not at home or because we were careless. There are those who quickly go to the pharmacy to find out the possible effects of not taking the contraceptive one day. Do not worry, we will explain what you have to do in these cases.
if you have forgotten 1 pill in a period of less than 12 hours or more than 12 hours, it is recommended to take it immediately. If it is less than 12 hours, you can take it as soon as you remember and continue with the usual cycle. On the other hand, if they have passed more than 12 hours, it is possible that the contraceptive action is diminished and it will be necessary to act differently depending on the week of the cycle in which you are:
First week
This week you should take the forgotten pill as soon as you remember, even if this forces you to take two at the same time. Once past, you can continue taking your daily pills at your usual time. However, in the following seven days it is advisable to use another contraceptive method, such as a condom.
Second week
In this case, you should take the forgotten tablet as soon as you remember. If during the first week you complied with your doses, you would not have to adopt other types of additional measures. However, if you miss two or more pills, you have to take them together and use another barrier method of contraception for the next seven days.
Third week
If you are in the third week, the risk is higher because it is closer to the bypass week (or placebo). In this case, it is recommended to choose one of these two options:
- Take the pill as soon as you remember, being 2 together if a full day has passed and start a second container without taking a break (or without taking the placebo).
- Take the day of oblivion as the first day of rest between cycles, and complete the seven days of rest to immediately start a new cycle.
And if you have forgotten to take more than two doses?
If you have forgotten to take two or more tablets, the risk of losing the contraceptive effect is greater. You should discontinue the dose and use a condom until you rule out a possible pregnancy or start your menstrual period.
Although you can also take the tablet that corresponds to that day when you remember and continue with the container, leaving the forgotten tablets. It is recommended to use the condom in the following seven days.
If when restarting the dose there are more than 7 active pills, you should continue with the usual cycle. If there are fewer left, when you finish them start another container without resting.