If you forget to take a COC pill or are more than 24hours late taking it, the advice depends on:
- What type of COC pill you are taking (see section on "Names" for the type of COC pill),
- How many pills you have forgotten to take,
- If you have had sex without using another form of contraception during the last 7 days.
Low strength oestrogen - 21 day COC pill
If you are taking Loestrin 20, Mercilon, Femodette or Sunya 20/75 and you have missed one pill, you do not need to worry.
Take the missed pill as soon as you remember and the remaining pills as normal. This may mean taking two pills on the same day or even at the same time (one at the time of remembering and one at the usual time).
- You do not need to use any additional contraception.
- If you have had sex without using another form of contraception - you do not need emergency contraception.
However, if you are taking Loestrin 20, Mercilon, Femodette or Sunya 20/75 and you have missed two or more pills (48 hours or more without taking a pill), then:
- Take the last pill you missed now and the remaining pills as normal. This may mean taking two pills on the same day or even at the same time (one at the time of remembering and one at the usual time).
- If you have less than seven pills left in your pack, finish the pack but skip the pill free break and start a new pack the next day. This may mean you don't get a bleed until the end of the second pack. If you don get a bleed by then, speak to your doctor straight away.
- Use additional contraception (such as condoms) for the next seven days.
- If you have had sex without using another form of contraception within the last 7 days - you may need emergency contraception. You should get advice straight away from your GP, family planning clinic or pharmacist. You can also call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47 (24 hour) or the fpa helpline on 0845 122 8690 (Mon - Fri, 9am - 6pm).
Standard strength oestrogen - 28 day or Every Day (ED) COC pill
If you are taking Femodene ED, Logynon ED or Microgynon 30 ED, and have missed one or two active pills or any number of the inactive pills (last 7 pills in the pack), you do not need to worry.
Take the last pill you missed now, and the remaining pills as normal. This may mean taking two pills on the same day or even at the same time (one at the time of remembering and one at the usual time).
- You do not need to use any additional contraception.
- If you have had sex without using another form of contraception - you do not need emergency contraception.
However, if you are taking Femodene ED, Logynon ED or Microgynon 30 ED, and have missed three or more active pills then:
- Take the last pill you missed now and the remaining pills as normal. This may mean taking two pills on the same day or even at the same time (one at the time of remembering and one at the usual time).
- If you have less than seven active pills left in your pack, finish the active pills but skip the inactive pills (last 7 pills in the pack) and start a new pack the next day. This may mean you don't get a bleed until the reaching the inactive pills at the end of the second pack. If you don get a bleed by then, speak to your doctor straight away.
- Use additional contraception (such as condoms) for the next seven days.
- If you have had sex without using another form of contraception within the last 7 days - you may need emergency contraception. You should get advice straight away from your GP, family planning clinic or pharmacist. You can also call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47 (24 hour) or the fpa helpline on 0845 122 8690 (Mon - Fri, 9am - 6pm).
Standard dose - 21 day COC pill
If you are taking any other type of COC pill and have missed one or two active pills, you do not need to worry.
- Take the last pill you missed now and the remaining pills as normal. This may mean taking two pills on the same day or even at the same time (one at the time of remembering and one at the usual time).
- You do not need to use any additional contraception.
- If you have had sex without using another form of contraception - you do not need emergency contraception.
- However, if you have missed three or more pills then:
- Take the last pill you missed now and the remaining pills as normal. This may mean taking two pills on the same day or even at the same time (one at the time of remembering and one at the usual time).
- If you have less than seven pills left in your pack, finish the pack but skip the pill free break and start a new pack the next day. This may mean you don't get a bleed until the end of the second pack. If you don get a bleed by then, speak to your doctor straight away.
- Use additional contraception (such as condoms) for the next seven days.
- If you have had sex without using another form of contraception within the last 7 days - you may need emergency contraception. You should get advice straight away from your GP, family planning clinic or pharmacist. You can also call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47 (24 hour) or the fpa helpline on 0845 122 8690 (Mon - Fri, 9am - 6pm).
If you accidentally take one extra COC pill - you do not need to seek medical advice and you will have no symptoms.
If you accidentally take more than one COC pill - you may feel slightly nauseous (sick) or even vomit (be sick). This will pass and you do not need to seek medical advice. However, if you are concerned, speak to your GP, family planning clinic or pharmacist or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.
