No matter how much you search the floor of your house, there is no case, you lost a contraceptive pill. These pills are so small that after falling on the floor they can “sneak” anywhere. The Mexican gynecologist Carlos Antonio Díaz Torres, specialist in obstetrics, gynecological surgery, menopause, sterility and endocrine gynecology, explains what you should do in this scenario to avoid getting pregnant.
The first thing he explains is that there are two different situations when you lose a contraceptive pill. One is that you lose any pill from the blister and another is that it is the last one before the placebo (if there are 28).
In the second scenario, which is pill 24, Dr. Díaz Torres assures that “does not affect the next cycle”. However, it recommends that imperatively “NO more forgetting or losing in the first two weeks” of the new blister.
Actually missing a pill is as similar as forgetting to take it. This cycle of birth control pills is designed to never stop, so you simply have to continue it, but now with no room for error..
Furthermore, it is correct to take it at the same time. According to Dr. Alexandra Lozada Pino, specialized in general medicine and gynecology, “if more than 6 hours have passed since you lost or forgot, it is best that you opt for other contraceptive methods, such as condoms, for a week.”
He added that using birth control pills correctly, without forgetting and at the same time, “is 91% effective in preventing pregnancy.” And if you are taking them for the first time, you should know when it is safe to have sex after starting them to avoid pregnancy.
What happens if you go more than a day without taking birth control pills?
Whether due to loss or forgetfulness, if between 24 and 36 hours (day and a half) pass, there you are at risk of getting pregnant. In this situation, If the pill corresponds to the first string on the blister, that is, the first week, you should take it just when you remember.
It is necessary that you do it, even if you also get the pill for that day, it means that you will end up taking both. Likewise, Dr. Alexandra Lozada Pino reiterates, It is advisable that due to non-compliance you use a condom for at least the next 7 days
If the pill belonged to the last seven in the blister, take the one you are missing and finish the thread, and when they run out, start a new one immediately.. Finally, if the forgotten pill was not in the first 7 of the package or the last 7, you just have to ingest it and that’s the end of the problem.
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The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical or health advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or health goals.