What to do if you forget the Contraceptive

The person who takes the pill for up to 3 hours after the usual time to take the missed pill, but anyone who takes any other pill has up to 12 hours to take the forgotten tablet without having to worry.

Forgetting contraception at the right time is one of the biggest causes of unwanted pregnancy, so check out in our video what to do in each situation, in a clear, simple and fun way:

If you forget to take the pill, it is important to consider using another contraceptive method. Here's how to choose the best contraceptive method so you do not risk unwanted pregnancies.

Summary of what to do if you forget the Contraceptive

In case of forgetting we indicate what you need to do in the following table:

	Up to 12h of forgetfulness	More than 12h of forgetfulness (1, 2 or more)
21 and 24 day pills (Diane 35, Selene, Thames 20, Yasmin, Minima, Mirelle)	Take it as soon as you remember. There is no risk of getting pregnant.	- In the 1st week: Take as soon as you remember and the other at the usual time. Use a condom in the next 7 days. There is a risk of getting pregnant if you had intercourse the previous week. - In the 2nd week: Take as soon as you remember, even if you have to take 2 pills together. You do not have to use a condom and there is no risk of getting pregnant. - At the end of the chart: Take the pill as soon as you remember and follow the chart normally, but amend with the next card, soon after, without menstruating.
	Up to 3h of forgetfulness	More than 3h of forgetfulness (1, 2 or more)
28 Day Pill (Micronor, Adoless and Gestinol)	Take it as soon as you remember. There is no risk of getting pregnant.	Take it as soon as you remember but use a condom in the next 7 days not to get pregnant.

What to do when you forget the first pill in the chart

• When you need to start a new card, you have up to 24 hours to start the card without having to worry. You do not have to use a condom in the next few days, but there is a risk of getting pregnant if you had intercourse the week before.
• If you only remember to start the pack with 48 hours delay, there is a risk of getting pregnant, so you should use a condom in the next 7 days.
• If forgetfulness is greater than 48 hours you should not start the card and wait for the onset of menstruation and on that first day of menstruation start a new card. During this period of waiting for menstruation you should use a condom.

What to do if you forget 2, 3 or more pills in a row

• When forgetting 2 pills or more of the same card there is a risk of getting pregnant and so you should use the condom in the next 7 days, there is also the risk of getting pregnant if you had intercourse the previous week. In any case, you should continue the pills normally until you finish the carton.
• If you forget 2 tablets in the 2nd week, you can leave the carton for 7 days and on the 8th day start a new carton.
• If you forget 2 tablets in the 3rd week, you can leave the carton for 7 days and on the 8th day start a new carton OR continue with the current carton and then amend with the next carton.

When to take the morning-after pill

The morning after pill is an emergency contraception that can be used up to 72 hours after intercourse without a condom. However it should not be used habitually because it has high hormonal concentration and it changes the menstrual cycle of the woman. Some examples are: Day D and Ellaone.

How do I know if I became pregnant?

If you forget to take the pill, depending on the time of forgetfulness, the week and how many pills you forgot to take in the same month, there is a risk of getting pregnant. Therefore, it is recommended to take the pill as soon as you remember and follow the information indicated in the table above.

However, the only way to confirm that you are pregnant is by taking a pregnancy test. The pregnancy test can be done at least 5 weeks after the day you forgot to take the pill because before, even if you are pregnant the result may be a false negative due to the small amount of hormone Beta HCG in the pee.

Another quicker way to know if you are pregnant is to look at the first 10 pregnancy symptoms that may come before your menstrual delay. You can also take our pregnancy test online to see if there is any chance of being pregnant:

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Find out if you are pregnant

Start the test

In the last month, have you had sexual intercourse without using a condom or other contraceptive method such as an IUD, implant, or contraceptive?

• Yes
• Not

Have you noticed any pink vaginal discharge lately?

• Yes
• Not

Are you getting nauseous and want to vomit in the morning?

• Yes
• Not

Are you more sensitive to smells, being annoyed by smells like cigarettes, food or perfume?

• Yes
• Not

Does your belly look more swollen than before, making it harder to keep your jeans tight during the day?

• Yes
• Not

Does your skin look more oily and prone to acne?

• Yes
• Not

Are you feeling more tired and sleepy?

• Yes
• Not

Has your period been delayed for more than 5 days?

• Yes
• Not

Have you ever had a pharmacy pregnancy test or blood test in the last month, with a positive result?

• Yes
• Not

Did you take the morning-after pill recently?

• Yes
• Not