What if lost birth control pill

You might also notice nausea if you missed multiple pills and then had to take two in one day. The higher dose of hormones can make some people feel queasy.

Talk to your provider if remembering to take your pill is becoming an issue. The ring, the patch, the shot or an IUD are all great options if forgetfulness is getting the best of you. Learn more about vaccine availability.

Advertising Policy. You have successfully subscribed to our newsletter. Related Articles. Why Is My Period Late? Trending Topics. What Parents Need to Know. Share this article via email with one or more people using the form below. Send me expert insights each week in Health Essentials News. If you lost a pill and skipped taking it entirely, you may experience some breakthrough bleeding.

Once you resume taking your daily birth control pills, the bleeding should end. If you take combination pills, you should use some form of backup protection if you skip two or more pills, or if it has been greater than 48 hours since you should have taken your pill. You should use this backup method for the next seven days. If you replace the lost pill with another pill, and you did not actually miss taking a pill, you will not need backup contraception. If you take progestin-only pills and skip your lost pill, your risk of getting pregnant will increase.

Use a backup method of birth control for at least 48 hours after you resume taking your pills daily. Buy now: Shop for condoms. These best practices can help you avoid an unplanned pregnancy or possible side effects caused by birth control:.

If you lose pills frequently or find yourself skipping pills regularly, you may want to discuss switching to a new birth control option. Birth control options such as a vaginal ring , patch , or intrauterine device IUD can help you maintain protection against an unplanned pregnancy without having to take a daily pill.

If you throw up after taking your birth control pill, you may not be protected against pregnancy. Find out what steps to take if you threw up a birth…. Many birth control pill packs contain placebo pills. These are found in the last week of birth control pills in a pack.

Learn whether you need to take…. Whether you're starting birth control for the first time or switching brands, there are a few things to consider. Learn more about starting midcycle. Monophasic birth control is a type of oral contraceptive. Learn more about benefits, side effects, and specific brands. With so many birth control pill brands out there, it can be hard to know where to begin.

Learn more about the different birth control pill options. A hormonal intrauterine device IUD is the most effective form of birth control. Once inserted, a hormonal IUD is Practicing safe sex is crucial to the prevention of sexually transmitted infections. Learn more. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. If this happens, the best course of action depends on the type of pill. In this article, we discuss what a person should do if they lose a combination or progestin-only birth control pill.

We also explore how missing a pill can affect pregnancy rates and medical conditions. Combination pills contain both estrogen and progestin. If a person loses a pill, they should call their doctor and ask for a replacement pack as soon as possible.

In the meantime, the doctor may offer the following advice:. If a person loses a pill and fewer than 48 hours have passed since they took their last pill, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC recommend:. If a person has lost only one pill and returned to a regular dosage immediately, it is not usually necessary to use alternative methods of contraception, such as condoms. However, it is best to use these if there are any doubts. Returning to a reliable dosage of birth control becomes more difficult if a person has missed two or more doses, or it has been longer than 48 hours since the last dose.

Progestin-only pills are also called POPs or mini-pills. A person must take them within the same 3-hour period every day to prevent pregnancy. Progestin-only pills take effect more quickly than combined pills, typically within about 2 days, but the effects also wear off more quickly.

This means that there is less room for error. If a person misses their 3-hour window, and it has been 27 hours or more since their last dose, the CDC recommend:. If a person takes birth control pills correctly, they are 99 percent effective for preventing pregnancy. The pill is much less effective if a person does not follow the instructions. Typical use generally results in a 9 percent failure rate. A person can still become pregnant while taking the pill.

This can occur on purpose or by accident.