What to do when you miss a pill depends on the specific situation: where you are in your pack, how many pills you missed, and whether you started a new pack late. This guide is organised by scenario rather than by pill type — so you can find the situation that matches what happened and see the relevant guidance directly.
Other guides in this series
Combined Pill: Missed in Week 1 of Your Pack (Days 1–7)
Week 1 is the highest-risk period for missing a combined pill. You have just come off the pill-free break, and your hormone levels were already at their lowest during that break. Missing a pill in the first week extends this low-hormone window.
Less than 24 hours late — week 1
Take it now and continue your pack
Take the missed pill as soon as you remember, even if it means taking two pills in one day. Continue the rest of your pack as normal. No backup contraception needed.
24 hours or more late — week 1, one pill missed
Take it now and use backup contraception
Take the missed pill immediately. Continue your pack. Use condoms for the next 7 days. If you had unprotected sex during the pill-free break or in the days before missing this pill, speak to a pharmacist or sexual health service about whether emergency contraception is needed.
Two or more missed pills — week 1
Take the most recent pill and use backup contraception
Take the most recently missed pill immediately, leave any earlier missed pills. Continue your pack. Use condoms for the next 7 days. If you had unprotected sex in the 7 days before missing these pills, contact a pharmacist or sexual health service about emergency contraception as soon as possible.
Combined Pill: Missed in Weeks 2–3 of Your Pack (Days 8–21)
A miss in the middle of your pack is generally lower risk than a week-1 miss, because you have had at least 7 consecutive days of active hormones before the gap. The guidance for one missed pill is straightforward; two or more missed pills still require backup contraception.
Less than 24 hours late — weeks 2–3
Take it now and continue your pack
Take the missed pill as soon as you remember, even if it means taking two in one day. Continue as normal. No backup contraception needed.
24 hours or more late — weeks 2–3, one pill missed
Take it now and use backup contraception
Take the missed pill immediately. Continue your pack. Use condoms for the next 7 days.
Two or more missed pills — weeks 2–3
Take the most recent pill and use backup contraception
Take the most recently missed pill immediately, leave any earlier missed pills. Continue your pack. Use condoms for the next 7 days. If fewer than 7 active pills remain after the missed pills, skip the pill-free break and start the next pack straight away.
Combined Pill: Missed Near the End of Your Pack
Missing pills in the last 7 active days of your pack (approximately days 15–21) is the second high-risk window. When you then take your pill-free break, the total hormone-free period — the missed days plus the break — can exceed 7 days, which is long enough for ovulation to potentially occur in some women.
One or more pills missed with fewer than 7 remaining
Skip the pill-free break and start the next pack immediately
Take the most recently missed pill immediately. Continue the rest of your pack. When you reach the end, start your next pack without a break. Use condoms for the next 7 days. If you had unprotected sex in the 7 days before missing the pills, speak to a pharmacist about emergency contraception.
Always refer to your patient information leaflet for the guidance specific to your brand, or ask your pharmacist or GP.
Started a New Pack Late
For the combined pill, the pill-free break should be no longer than 7 days. If you start your new pack more than 7 days after finishing the previous one, the hormone-free gap has extended beyond what provides consistent suppression.
New pack started 8 days or more after the previous pack ended
Start the new pack and use backup contraception
Take the first pill of the new pack as soon as you remember. Continue the pack as normal. Use condoms for the next 7 days. If you had unprotected sex during the extended gap, speak to a pharmacist or GP about emergency contraception as soon as possible.
For the 84-day extended cycle pill (such as Seasonique or Seasonale): 84 consecutive active pills are followed by a short 7-day break. The same principle applies — starting the new 84-day cycle late by more than 7 days creates a prolonged hormone-free gap. Follow the same backup contraception guidance and consult your patient leaflet.
Progestogen-Only Pill (Traditional, 3-Hour Window)
Traditional progestogen-only pill brands (such as Norgeston and Noriday) have a strict 3-hour window. Being more than 3 hours late counts as a missed pill.
Less than 3 hours late
Take it now and continue as normal
Take the pill as soon as you remember and continue at your usual time. No backup contraception needed.
More than 3 hours late
Take it now and use backup contraception
Take the pill as soon as you remember. Continue at your usual time. Use condoms for the next 48 hours. If you had unprotected sex during the at-risk period, consider emergency contraception and speak to a pharmacist or GP.
Desogestrel (12-Hour Window, e.g. Cerazette, Cerelle)
Desogestrel-based progestogen-only pills have a more forgiving 12-hour protection window. Being up to 12 hours late does not require backup contraception.
Less than 12 hours late
Take it now and continue as normal
Take the pill as soon as you remember and continue as normal. No backup contraception needed.
More than 12 hours late
Take the most recent missed pill and use backup contraception
Take the most recently missed pill, continue your pack as normal. Use condoms for the next 48 hours. If you had unprotected sex during the at-risk period, consider emergency contraception.
Quick Reference by Scenario
| Scenario | Action | Backup contraception? |
|---|---|---|
| Combined pill — week 1, <24h late | Take it now, continue pack | No |
| Combined pill — week 1, 24h+ late or 2+ missed | Take most recent, continue pack | Yes, 7 days |
| Combined pill — weeks 2–3, <24h late | Take it now, continue pack | No |
| Combined pill — weeks 2–3, 24h+ late or 2+ missed | Take most recent, skip break if <7 pills left | Yes, 7 days |
| Combined pill — end of pack, <7 pills remaining | Take most recent, skip pill-free break | Yes, 7 days |
| New pack started >7 days late | Start new pack immediately | Yes, 7 days |
| Traditional mini-pill, <3h late | Take it now, continue | No |
| Traditional mini-pill, >3h late | Take it now, continue | Yes, 48 hours |
| Desogestrel, <12h late | Take it now, continue | No |
| Desogestrel, >12h late | Take it now, continue | Yes, 48 hours |
Track with Estroclic
Keep a clear record of your pill schedule
Estroclic records your pill schedule and dose times. When you need to speak to a pharmacist or GP about a missed pill, you have an accurate timeline of what happened and when — including where you were in your pack — rather than trying to reconstruct it from memory.
Download on AndroidSources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). U.S. Selected Practice Recommendations for Contraceptive Use: Combined Hormonal Contraceptives, missed pill guidance. cdc.gov
- NHS. Progestogen-only pill: how to take it, missed pills. nhs.uk
- Faculty of Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH). Combined Hormonal Contraception guideline, 2019 (updated 2023). fsrh.org
- Faculty of Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH). Progestogen-only Pills guideline, 2022. fsrh.org