If you are on the combined pill and miss one pill only anywhere in the packet this should not have an impact on the effectiveness of your pill. Missing one pill only means it has been more than 48 hours but still less than 72 hours since you took your last dose (or more than 24 hours but less than 48 hours since your missed pill was due to be taken). This also relies on you having taken the pill consistently and correctly earlier on in the packet and at the end of the last packet if you took a 7 day break.

If you are on the progestogen-only pill then missing just one pill can impact the effectiveness of your pill.

Always take your missed pill as soon as you remember and check out our missed pill calculator so you know what to do next.

If you take the combined pill and have missed two or more pills (aka it has been more than 72 hours since you last took your combined pill, or more than 48 hours since you were due to take it) this can impact the effectiveness of your contraception. What you need to do next will depend on where you are in your pack of pills, whether you have taken a pill-free break before this packet, how many you’ve missed, and whether you have had unprotected sex. We work this all out for you in our missed pill calculator!

Take your missed pill as soon as possible, even if it means taking two in one day. What you need to do next will depend on where you are in your pack of pills, whether you have taken a pill-free break before this packet, and how many pills you’ve missed. Check out our missed pill calculator where we work this out for you.

As long as you take your pill within the safe window, you are still protected against pregnancy. However, traditional progestogen-only pills have a shorter safe window of 3 hours, so there may be a higher risk of missing your pill in this case.

Take your missed pill as soon as you remember, even if this means taking two in one day. If you have missed more than one pill, only take the last one that you missed (as soon as you remember), as well as your next pill in the packet at your usual time. Use our missed pill calculator to check whether you should consider using emergency contraception as well as whether you need to use additional contraception such as condoms for the next few days.

Placebo pills do not contain any hormones, and are there purely to help maintain your pill taking routine during your hormone-free break. If you miss a placebo pill this has no effect on the effectiveness of your contraception. Leave it and take the next pill at your usual time. Continue taking the placebo pills as you would, and make sure to start your new pill packet on time to maintain your contraception’s effectiveness.

It is common to experience spotting whilst on birth control, including if you have missed a pill. Hormonal methods containing only progestogen are the most likely to cause spotting.

Combined hormonal contraception containing oestrogen and progestogen (the combined pill, patch or ring) may cause spotting in the first few months of use. However this usually settles and users of these methods will then normally only experience bleeding when they choose to have a break of up to 7 days between packs. This is known as a ‘withdrawal bleed’.

Spotting is normal when changing contraception, however if it is still occurring after six months, then this could mean an underlying issue. While breakthrough bleeding is generally nothing to worry about, it’s good to be aware of potential causes such as starting a new pill, missing a pill, taking medication that interferes with your pill, infections and STIs, cervical ectropion, and in some cases pregnancy.

If you have missed a pill, or multiple pills, and had unprotected sex there is a chance you could be pregnant. Take a pregnancy test as a precaution and speak to a healthcare professional for further advice.