Forgot to take birth control pills every day, what should I do?

The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor II Pham Thi Tuyet Mai - Obstetrician and Gynecologist - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology - Vinmec Hai Phong International General Hospital.

Conventional birth control pills want to be highly effective, you must remember to take them every day at a certain time. You should leave the blister pack in a private place, but have regular contact in daily life to remind you to take the medicine and avoid forgetting it. Forgetting to take the pill every day is a problem many women face. When detecting forgetting to take medicine, it is necessary to promptly handle it according to the instructions above.

Daily oral contraceptives are usually produced in the form of a pack of pills for one month. The active ingredients of the drug are synthetic hormones, like the female hormones secreted by the body to regulate the menstrual cycle .
There are 2 types of blister packs:
Blister has 28 tablets: Take one pill a day, use up this pack to drink another pack. This is the more commonly used form. Because taking the pill every day becomes a habit, it is possible to minimize forgetting to take the pill every day in women. Blister has 21 tablets: Take one pill a day, take a break from the pack for 7 days and then take another pack. There are two types of oral contraceptives:
Combined oral contraceptives: Combination pills contain estrogen and progestin, which work by inhibiting ovulation, making the endometrium unsuitable for egg implantation. , thickens cervical mucus. This prevents a man's sperm from entering during unprotected sex. Oral contraceptives alone : A progestin-only pill, without estrogen: also has the ability to prevent ovulation, but mainly works to thin the uterine lining and thicken cervical mucus; interferes with the implantation of the egg and prevents sperm from entering the uterus.

Forgetting to take a pill increases the risk of failure, especially if you forget to take it during the first or third week of the month. The workaround is as follows:
2.1. If you forget to take a hormone pill (from the 1st to the 21) If you forget 1 or 2 pills (for estrogen pills 30-35 mcg) or forget 1 pill (for estrogen pills), ≤ 20 mcg) or start the pack 1-2 days late: Take one pill as soon as you remember and continue taking one pill a day as usual. If you forget 3 or more pills (for drugs with an estrogen concentration of 30-35 mcg) or forget 2 or more pills (for drugs with an estrogen concentration 20 mcg) or start the pack 3 days late or more: Take one pill as soon as you remember and continue to take one pill a day as usual. You need to use additional contraception for the next 7 days. If it happened within the first week (starting the pack) and had unprotected intercourse within the past 5 days, you need to use extra emergency contraception. If it occurs in the third week, you need to continue taking the hormonal pills, remove the booster pills and immediately resume the new pack. 2.2. Forgot to take the reminder pill (from the 22nd to the 28th pill) You should not worry in this case. If you forget, just drop the missed pill and take the next pill as usual.

If you forget to take a pill (one or more pills) or take it 3 hours or more late:
You have had your period (including breastfeeding): Take one pill as soon as you remember and continue taking one pill a day as usual. usually. At the same time, it is necessary to use additional contraceptive methods for the next 2 days. Additional emergency contraception may be considered if the risk is high. You have not had a period and are breast-feeding: Take one pill as soon as you remember and continue taking one pill a day as usual. It is necessary to use additional contraception for 2 days, if after 6 months postpartum.