| Key message |
- Take a missed hormonal pill as soon as possible.
- Keep taking pills as usual, one each day. (She may take 2 pills at the same time or on the same day.)
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| Missed 1 or 2 pills? Started new pack 1 or 2 days late? |
- Take a hormonal pill as soon as possible.
- Little or no risk of pregnancy.
|
| Missed pills 3 or more days in a row in the first or second week? Started new pack 3 or more days late? |
- Take a hormonal pill as soon as possible.
- Use a backup method for the next 7 days.
- Also, if she had sex in the past 5 days, can consider ECPs (see Emergency Contraceptive Pills).
|
| Missed 3 or more pills in the third week? |
- Take a hormonal pill as soon as possible.
- Finish all hormonal pills in the pack. Throw away the 7 nonhormonal pills in a 28-pill pack.
- Start a new pack the next day.
- Use a backup method for the next 7 days.
- Also, if she had sex in the past 5 days, can consider ECPs (see Emergency Contraceptive Pills).
|
| Missed any nonhormonal pills? (last 7 pills in 28-pill pack) |
- Discard the missed nonhormonal pill(s).
- Keep taking COCs, one each day. Start the new pack as usual.
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| Severe vomiting or diarrhea |
- If she vomits within 2 hours after taking a pill, she should take another pill from her pack as soon as possible, then keep taking pills as usual.
- If she has vomiting or diarrhea for more than 2 days, follow instructions for 3 or more missed pills, above.
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‡ For pills with 20 μg of estrogen or less, women missing one pill should follow the same guidance as for missing one or two 30–35 μg pills. Women missing 2 or more pills should follow the same guidance as for missing 3 or more 30–35 μg pills.
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