posted
So I was reading my pill instructive yesterday and it says that after 2 or more missed/late pills the effectiveness of the pill is lowered, and that I would need a barrier method to prevent a unwanted pregnancy for the next 7 days.
It also says that if I had sex the week before I missed that pill (especially during the first week), I have risk of pregnancy and should contact my doctor.
This made me think... because if I ever miss a pill during that week, I could always use emergency contraception, but it's only effective the first 5 days, right? So if, for example, I had sex everyday the week before, I would still have a higher risk of pregnancy... right?
And, besides wearing a condom or not having sex the week after the missed pill, there's basically nothing else I could do to avoid a pregnancy, or am I missing something? This is NOT my current situation, I was just thinking about it.
posted
What brand of pill are you on? I wasn't aware there was a pill that came with instructions stating that missing a pill creates a risk from before that pill was missed. Generally, if you miss a pill or two or take other medications that interfere with the pill, it's considered less effective from that time forward, not retroactively, if that makes any sense.
-------------------- "Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing." -Arundhati Roy Posts: 5329 | From: Canada/Australia | Registered: Sep 2004
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posted
Sorry for the late response, I have JUST missed a pill (the irony). The brand is "FEMELLE".
Well, the instructions say that if you miss a pill (or if it's late longer than 12 hours) from the first or third week there is risk of pregnancy if you've had sex in the previous week because the effectiveness is reduced.
I took the first pill of the second week 14-15 hours late, which is ALMOST the first week so I'm a bit worried
-------------------- Heather Corinna, Executive Director & Founder, Scarleteen About Me • Get our book! Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. - Margaret Mead Posts: 63416 | From: An island near Seattle | Registered: May 2000
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posted
I took yesterday's missed pill about 15 hours late (this afternoon), and tonight I took the pill on time.
Posts: 27 | From: Chile | Registered: Nov 2010
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posted
So, one late pill like that -- and really, that's just late, not missed, missed would be a full 24 hours -- would be considered, at most, to kick down your effectiveness to typical use effectiveness, which is around 92%. And it may not even decrease it to that level.
In other words, this is likely all good. But to be safe, you can always back up with a second method if you're sexually active if you like.
-------------------- Heather Corinna, Executive Director & Founder, Scarleteen About Me • Get our book! Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. - Margaret Mead Posts: 63416 | From: An island near Seattle | Registered: May 2000
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