Missed pills

If 36 hours since last pill taken (i.e., more than 12 hours late):

• Take missed pill as soon as it is remembered.
• Take the next pill at the usual time.
• Use extra contraceptive precaution (condoms, abstinence) for 48 hours after restarting POP.
• Emergency contraception is indicated if unprotected sexual intercourse occurred in the time between the pill becoming late and 48 hours after recommencing the pill. See WoS Emergency Contraception guideline.

If 27 hours since last pill taken (i.e., more than 3 hours late):

• Take missed pill as soon as it is remembered.
• Take the next pill at the usual time.
• Use extra contraceptive precaution (condoms, abstinence) for 48 hours after restarting POP.
• Emergency contraception is indicated if unprotected sexual intercourse occurred in the time between the pill becoming late and 48 hours after recommencing the pill. See WoS Emergency Contraception guideline.

If 48 hours since last pill taken (i.e., more than 24 hours late):or more than 24 hours since new pack should have been started after hormone free interval

One or more active pills missed:

• Take last pill asap
• Take next pill at usual time
• Use extra contraceptive precaution( condoms, abstinence) for 7 days hours after restarting POP
• OMIT placebo pills if any of last 7 active pills missed

Missed placebo pills:

• dispose of missed pills
• continue pills
• ensure new pack started on time. If new pack not started on time follow missed pill rules above

Emergency contraception is indicated if:

• one or more missed pills days 1-7 after placebo pills and UPSI during placebo pills or week 1
• 4 or more were missed days 8-17 and there was UPSI from the time that the first pill was missed until correct pill-taking had resumed for 7 days
• 4 or more were missed days 18-24 and there was UPSI from the time that the first pill was missed until correct pill-taking had resumed for 7 days i.e HFI omitted 
• Any other combination of missed pills during days 18–24 or if pills were missed earlier in the packet.

See WoS Emergency Contraception guideline.