What should I do if I miss a Microgynon pill?

Forgotten to take your Microgynon pill?! Not to worry, help is on hand. When life gets busy it can be easy to forget to take your pill on time. When do you need to worry about taking emergency contraception? Read on to find out exactly what you need to do if you have missed a Microgynon pill.

Do you need to take Microgynon at the same time every day?

Ideally it is best to try and remember to take your Microgynon pill at the same time everyday as it helps with getting into the habit of remembering to take it – like when you brush your teeth! However in the event of forgetting to take it , you have 24 hours to remember to take it in.

Can you take the Microgynon Pill 2 hours late?

Yes you can take it 2 hours later than you normally would and it will still work the same as normal.

How late is considered a missed microgynon pill?

A Microgynon pill is ‘missed’ if it is more than 24 hours since you were due to take it (or more than 48 hours since you took your last pill)

What happens if you miss one Microgynon pill?

If you miss one Microgynon pill anywhere in your packet, this does not affect the effectiveness of your pill and does not put you at risk of pregnancy. You can still take the missed pill even if it means taking more than one pill in a day. Don’t worry, taking 2 pills won’t cause you any harm.

You should continue taking the rest of your pack as normal. You can have your 7 day break if you use Microgynon 30 or take the 7 placebo pills if you take Microgynon 30 ED.

What happens if you miss two Microgynon pills?

If you miss two Microgynon pills, this could affect the effectiveness of your pill, depending on where in your pack you missed them. See below for a detailed guide on missing your pill at different places in your pill pack.

Days 1-7 or Week 1

If you have had unprotected sex and missed 2 or more microgynon pills or started your pill 2 or more days late in the first week of your pill pack then you may need emergency contraception. Check our missed pill calculator to see if you do. You should take your next pill as normal and use condoms for the next 7 days or avoid sex. You should complete the rest of your pack including your pill free week if you  have this or your placebo pills.

Days 8-14 or Week 2

If you have missed 2 or more Microgynon pills in the second week of your pack, take the next pill as soon as you remember even if it means taking 2 pills in one day. You do not need emergency contraception but should use condoms or additional protection for the next seven days. You should complete the rest of your pack including your pill free week or your placebo pills.

Days 15-21 or Week 3

If you have missed 2 or more Microgynon pills in the third week of your pack, take the next pill as soon as you remember even if it means taking 2 pills in one day. You do not need emergency contraception but should use condoms or additional protection for the next seven days. If you take Microgynon 30 you should not have your pill free break but start your next pack as soon as you finish your last pill. If you take Microgynon 30 ED you should take your next pack as soon as you finish your last active pill. You should miss your week of placebo pills.

It is worth mentioning that if youmiss more pills at any point in your pill pack, your Microgynon pill is unlikely to be effective and you may need emergency contraception if you have had unprotected sex.

If you are still unsure what to do, head over to the missed pill calculator!

Can you get pregnant if you miss a Microgynon pill?

If you have only missed one Microgynon pill in your pill pack then you are still protected from pregnancy even if it is the first pill in your pack. However, missing more than one pill in a row or at random times within your pack may put you at risk of pregnancy. This is particularly the case if you have had unprotected sex in the week after forgetting your pill. The Lowdown makes it easy to order emergency contraception fast if you ever find yourself in a pickle.

Remembering to take your pill

There are lots of different ways to remember to take your Microgynon pill on time. From putting an alarm on, to leaving your pill next to your toothbrush, it depends on what works for you. Once you form a habit of taking the pill regularly (which usually takes about 30 days to form) you are more likely to maintain this and are less likely to miss pills. If you do find you are missing pills despite lots of attempts to remember to take them it may be worth trialling a different form of contraception that may suit you better. Our contraceptive recommender tool is a good starting point to help you find the best contraceptive for you. You can also book a consultation with one or our lovely doctors if you need further advice.

Forgetting to reorder your next pill pack is a common reason for missed pills. By using the Lowdown’s subscription delivery service you can order online and have your pills delivered to you with next day delivery! One less thing to worry about!