Is it possible to get pregnant if you forgot to take your pill? What to do if there is a violation of the contraceptive regimen

Contraceptive methods are highly effective if used systematically. Follow your doctor's instructions about what to do if you miss a dose of your birth control pills. Basic instructions are listed below.

Combined (estrogen and progestin) birth control pills

The greatest risk of pregnancy occurs if you start taking combination (estrogen and progestin) pills late or stop taking them too early (that is, you do not finish monthly appointment tablets). If you use a package containing 21 tablets, you take for 3 weeks hormonal pills, and stop taking it for 1 week. If your pills come in a pack of 28 tablets, the last 7 tablets usually do not contain hormones.

If you miss just one hormonal pill, or if you start taking a new pack of pills too late, use emergency contraception (a special hormonal pill). And then start taking your pills as scheduled, with next day. During the first week of taking the pills, there is highest risk release of the egg (ovulation) and pregnancy.

If you miss one tablet, follow these instructions:

If you miss 1 tablet during week 2 or 3, take it as soon as possible. Take your next pill on time.

If you miss 2 tablets, take 1 missed tablet every 12 hours until you catch up, then continue as scheduled. Use additional contraception, such as a condom or diaphragm, for the next 7 days.

you have had sexual intercourse within the last 5 days, use emergency contraception. Starting the next day, start taking your pills as scheduled. Use additional contraception, such as a condom or diaphragm, for the next 7 days. If you have had sexual intercourse but decide not to use emergency contraception, take the pills further as scheduled, skipping the forgotten pills. Use additional contraception, such as a condom or diaphragm, until your next menstrual period. Taking the remaining pills will not protect you from pregnancy, but will regulate your cycle.

If you miss more than 2 tablets, and you have not had sexual intercourse in the last 5 days, take 2 tablets at once, and then continue taking them as scheduled. Use additional contraception, such as a condom or diaphragm, for the next 7 days.

Emergency contraception

If you had unprotected sex while you missed your pill, you can use emergency contraception to prevent pregnancy. you can buy emergency contraceptive Plan B (sometimes called "postcoital contraceptive") is available at most pharmacies.

If you are 18 years of age or older, you can get Plan B from your pharmacist without a prescription. Proof of age is required.

If you are under 18 years of age, you can get Plan B with a doctor's prescription.

Diseases

Vomiting and diarrhea may reduce the effectiveness of birth control pills. It is recommended to use another method of contraception for the next 7 days if you have the flu, even if you have not missed a pill.

Check with your doctor if you are taking medications for epilepsy (phenytoin and barbiturates) or tuberculosis (rifampin). These medications may affect the effectiveness of birth control pills.

Progestin-only pills

Progestin-only pills must be taken daily at the same time. If the pill is taken more than 3 hours later, you must use another method of contraception for the next 48 hours to avoid pregnancy. If you miss just one dose of the pill, you will need to use another method of contraception until your next period to avoid pregnancy. Cannot be accepted extra tablet, as with combined birth control pills, to make up for a missed dose.

The effectiveness of contraceptives depends on how timely and regularly they are taken. If a woman forgot to take a birth control pill and remembered about it only after some time, this can have certain consequences. The result will depend on how much time has passed since the last dose, as well as on female cycle.

Sequence of actions when skipping hormonal contraceptives

If a woman notices that she has lost birth control pill and missed it required period reception, the following actions should be taken:

Calm down and don't panic. The solution to the problem must be taken consciously and calmly, no matter how much time has passed since the moment when the woman did not take the contraceptive pill on time.
Take the missed medication as soon as possible.
Read the instructions for the drug. It usually indicates exactly what to do if a woman has forgotten to take her last contraceptive pill.
If instructions cannot be found, then you need to act depending on what type of contraceptive is used, combined with a placebo or the main one, as well as on the cycle and period since the last dose.

Duration of absence and possible consequences

If a woman misses taking a birth control pill and no more than 8 hours have passed since the scheduled time of taking it, then there is nothing to worry about, the effect will continue.

It happens that you forgot that you already took the pill and took an extra birth control pill, and then found out that it turns out that you already took the medicine. This option does not threaten special consequences, and in most cases some side effects do not arise. However, it must be remembered that the subsequent dose must take place at the appointed time, regardless of the fact that a double dose of the drug was taken the day before. In this case, the drug package will simply end a day earlier than planned. But such experiments on the body are extremely dangerous, and this should not be abused; use an additional calendar (electronic or regular) for memorization. In any case, if a woman forgot to take a contraceptive pill, she should do so as soon as she remembers, since time plays a key role here.

If a woman misses one contraceptive pill, then after the next dose the course can be continued as usual. If a woman has missed 2 or more contraceptive pills, then by the time the next cycle begins, other types of contraceptives (condoms, spermicides) must be used in parallel, since the reliability of this option is significantly reduced. The remedy gives high result only when accepted for at least 7 days.

You should also take into account the fact that the body reacts sharply to untimely administration of the drug, thereby reducing the level of hormones. That is why many are interested in the question of what to do if they missed a birth control pill and started menstruating. In this case, the drug should be continued to be taken, despite the presence of bloody discharge. If your period does not come, you need to check for the possibility of pregnancy.

Emergency measures

If a contraceptive omission was detected and sexual intercourse took place without any other means of protection, then additional protective measures may be needed. If a woman forgot to take a contraceptive pill and less than 12 hours have passed since then, the medicine should be taken immediately, and the next pill should be taken at the appointed time. In this case, it may happen that this will need to be done twice in one day.

If you miss two birth control pills, you must use special pills within 72 hours. emergency means, which can be purchased at the pharmacy. Similar drugs in most cases, they have certain side effects, which is quite normal, given the heavy dose of hormones. With a list possible consequences can be found through the instructions for the drug.

If a woman has missed 3 birth control pills, then no matter what period of the cycle she is currently in, she must take the drug emergency contraception. The risk of becoming pregnant in this case is quite high, and taking the drug will need to be started from the very beginning - with the onset of the next menstruation.

You should also take into account the fact that if missing a contraceptive pill is repeated more than once, then it is better to choose another contraceptive, since this option is clearly not suitable. If a woman takes her birth control pill at the wrong time, then following the above instructions will help avoid unwanted pregnancy. The nature of the actions depends on the amount of time that has passed since the last dose of the drug, as well as on the female cycle. In any case, the remedy must be taken immediately after the failure is detected. If you miss taking a birth control pill only once and for a short time, there will be no consequences. If such situations arise frequently, then it makes sense to choose another contraceptive, since no matter how effective the drug is, it gives results only if taken consistently and regularly.

Duphaston is a hormonal pill that women take if they have problems with their reproductive system. The drug is a synthetic analogue of progesterone. You should drink it only after your doctor confirms that you have hormone deficiency. Self-medication can negatively affect a woman’s health and only worsen her illness.

Reception features

Sometimes girls take medicine, guided by schemes written on forums, or do not adhere to the rules at all. They may miss taking Duphaston one or more times, which is why they will not achieve any effect at all.

Today various variations courses of treatment are described in the instructions for the drug. However, if you take the pills exactly according to these schemes, there is no guarantee of success. For each patient, the doctor individually prescribes a cycle of therapy. And he tells the woman what to do after missing a dose of Duphaston.

Approximate patterns of tablet use depend on the diagnosis and are as follows:

For treatment of endometriosis take one tablet three times a day, starting from day 5 of the cycle until day 25.
Infertility treatment continue from 3 months to six months. Take one capsule twice a day. The dose may vary depending on the degree of hormonal deficiency.
Maintenance therapy during pregnancy, it is carried out in the same dosages as before its onset. However, if you miss the Duphaston tablet, the risk of fetal rejection increases.
If a woman threatening abortion begins, then you should take 4 tablets at a time. After 8 hours, take another dose, after which they continue to take one tablet per day for a week.
When performing a routine abortion(several miscarriages in a row), a woman is prescribed one tablet per day from days 11 to 25 menstrual cycle 3-6 months before pregnancy.
To even out menstruation the patient is prescribed 2 capsules per day in the morning and evening in the second phase of the cycle (from 11 to 25 days) for several months.

Skipping a pill while following any of the listed regimens may not have any consequences, but may lead to unexpected reactions. Therefore, Duphaston must be used carefully, strictly adhering to the course.

What to do after missing a dose

There are many things to do and unforeseen situations that can cause you to forget to take Duphaston. Hormonal drugs are taken on certain days, and some even on set time. Usually, missing at least one dose does not have a very good effect on a woman’s health, but in the case of Duphaston, everything is not so bad.

If the patient misses a Duphaston tablet, she must drink it within 6 hours. In this case, there will be no consequences.

A delay of more than 6 hours may have a negative impact on reproductive function. However, you no longer need to take the medicine, and the course should be continued according to the regimen prescribed by the doctor.

If you skip Duphaston during pregnancy, the risk of spontaneous abortion increases. Especially if this happened in the first few weeks of the term in girls prone to miscarriages. A woman should set herself reminders to take pills so as not to undermine the health of her baby.

Consequences of missing

Abruptly stopping Duphaston is strictly prohibited. Female body due to the sudden cessation of hormone supply, it reacts inadequately. Therefore, if a girl missed taking Duphaston, she may be worried about:

sudden uterine bleeding;
heavy menstruation, uncharacteristic of the cycle phase;
delayed discharge;
appearance side effects drug.

As a rule, these conditions resolve themselves if you continue to take the medicine without skipping. And in order for taking Duphaston during and before pregnancy to be as safe as possible, you should carefully adhere to the developed regimen.

Birth control pills are oral contraceptives, preventing unwanted pregnancy. To achieve the effect, you must take the drug regularly at the same time, without skipping.

A break in taking birth control pills is allowed for up to 7 days. During this period, the mucous layer of the uterus is rejected, and a menstrual-like reaction develops.

The contraceptive effect of the drug remains during the break, provided that the pills were previously taken correctly.

Instructions for skipping birth control pills

The scheme of action depends on the chosen drug and the day of the cycle in which the woman forgot to take contraceptive.

COCs based on ethinyl estradiol

If there is a break in taking the drug was less than 12 hours, you need to take the missed pill as soon as the woman remembers about it. Contraceptive effect persists, additional measures to protect against unwanted pregnancy are not required.

If there is a break in taking COC was more than 12 hours, you should use the instructions for skipping a pill included with the medicine. Contraceptive effect decreases, an unplanned pregnancy may occur.

Action plan:

First week. You should take the missed pill as soon as possible, even if you have to take two pills. The next tablet should be taken at the usual time according to the instructions. Additionally, it is recommended to use a condom or other means of barrier contraception over the next 7 days.
Second week. You need to take the missed pill as soon as the woman remembers about it. Additional contraception is not indicated, but only if up to this point the woman has taken the drug correctly and without omissions. If there were any errors, you should use a condom for 7 days.
Third week. There are two options: 1) take the missed pill, use a condom for 7 days, start new packaging without a 7-day break; 2) take a 7-day break and after that start taking pills from a new pack. In any of these situations, intermenstrual bloody issues from the genital tract.

Important aspects:

It takes at least 7 days to achieve a contraceptive effect.
The break between taking pills should not be more than 7 days.
The closer the missed pill is to the 7-day break in taking the drug, the higher the likelihood of an unwanted pregnancy.
If vomiting or diarrhea occurs within 4 hours after taking the tablet, absorption of the drug will be incomplete. You should focus on the scheme proposed when skipping a pill.

COCs based on natural estrogens

Actions to take when missing a pill are considered using the drug Qlaira as an example. It contains estradiol valerate -. If a woman is taking another contraceptive based on active substance, she is advised to follow the instructions included in the packaging of the drug.

If you miss taking the drug for less than 12 hours, its effect is not reduced.. Additional measures not shown.

If the absence was more than 12 hours, you need to proceed according to the following scheme:

1-17th day. Skipping dark yellow, pink or pale yellow tablets. Recommended to take forgotten pill As soon as possible. Then use additional contraception (condom) for 9 days.
18-24th day. Skipping pale yellow tablets. You should throw away the current package of the drug and start taking tablets from a new pack without skipping. Do not forget about additional contraception over the next 9 days.
25-26th day. Skipping the red pills. Take the missed tablet as soon as possible. Additional funds No medications are indicated.
27-28th day. Skipping the white pills is a placebo. It is recommended to throw away the forgotten pill and continue taking the drug as usual. Barrier contraception not required.

Mini-pill

The contraceptive effect of purely gestagenic drugs lasts up to 36 hours.

Action plan:

If one tablet has been missed for no more than 12 hours, you should take another dose of the drug. The contraceptive effect is maintained; additional protection is not required.
If the break in taking pills is more than 12 hours, you need to use barrier contraceptives for the next 7 days.
If a pill was missed during the first week of taking the contraceptive, pregnancy should be excluded.

Rules for stopping birth control pills

Indications for discontinuation of contraception:

Pregnancy planning.
Treatment incompatible with (surgery, immobilization, etc.).
Changing the form of contraceptives.
The woman's reluctance to continue taking the drug.
The appearance of unwanted side effects that are dangerous to health and life.
The onset of pregnancy while taking the drug.

In all situations except the last two, the contraceptive is canceled only after completing all the pills from the package. You cannot interrupt the course. It is recommended to take all the tablets from the package according to the instructions, without skipping them. Abrupt withdrawal of the drug threatens hormonal imbalance and development uterine bleeding .

Emergency withdrawal of the drug is allowed if unwanted side effects that are dangerous to the woman’s health occur. You should stop taking the contraceptive and consult a doctor immediately.

If pregnancy occurs while taking the drug, you must first consult a gynecologist and only then stop taking the drug. The doctor may prescribe other hormonal agents to maintain pregnancy.

During gestation, contraceptives are not used, but accidental use of the drug is not dangerous to the fetus, does not lead to developmental defects and is not an indication for abortion.

It is not recommended to take breaks in taking medications. A healthy woman can take the drug for as long as she needs it. There is no need to take a break of 1-3 months every year or every five years. For such short period you can only get hormonal disbalance and unplanned pregnancy.

Ovulation after stopping birth control pills

After stopping the drug, a menstrual-like reaction develops. The effect of the contraceptive lasts up to 7 days. If after a break the woman does not resume taking the drug, its effect on the body decreases. Are developing hormonal changes, leading to the maturation of follicles and the start of ovulation. On average, the release of an egg from the ovary occurs 14-18 days after discontinuation of the drug.

Most women manage to conceive a child within 1-6 months after stopping the contraception. The older the woman, the less often ovulation occurs in the ovaries, and the more longer period recovery. If after a year of sexual activity without using contraceptive pregnancy does not occur, you need to consult a doctor.

Birth control pill withdrawal syndrome

After stopping taking birth control pills, certain changes occur in a woman’s body:

Recovering hormonal background.
Follicle maturation begins.
Ovulation occurs.
The endometrium is preparing for possible implantation ovum.
The viscosity of cervical mucus decreases.

Possible problems:

Delayed menstruation. It is observed for up to 35-40 days, less often up to 2-3 months.
Return premenstrual syndrome.
Deterioration of skin and hair condition.
Changes in mood.

All these symptoms are temporary, and usually the woman’s condition stabilizes within 3-6 months. Special treatment not required. If amenorrhea lasts more than 2 months, a consultation with a gynecologist is indicated.

On average, it takes 1-3 months to restore the menstrual cycle. During this period, the likelihood of conceiving a child increases significantly. In medicine, this phenomenon is called the rebound effect. Superovulation occurs, and often two or more eggs mature at once. Possible multiple pregnancy.

The rebound effect is used in gynecology to treat some forms of endocrine infertility. Prescribing COCs for 3 months followed by discontinuation of the drug promotes pregnancy. Majority healthy women are able to conceive a child already in the first spontaneous cycle after stopping taking COCs. If pregnancy is unwanted, care should be taken.

Your risk of getting pregnant after missing a birth control pill depends on how much you forgot to take birth control pills in a row, and depending on what day of your cycle it is. Typically, manufacturers describe in the instructions the likelihood of pregnancy if you miss taking pills, so read the instructions carefully.

If you forget to start taking pills from a new pack on time, just take one a day as soon as you remember, and use additional contraception (diaphragm or condoms) for the first seven days.

If you miss one tablet, take it as soon as you remember. Then accept next pill usual appointment time. This means that you will have to take two tablets on the same day (or even at the same time). After this loading dose hormones, you may feel a little nauseous - don’t worry, it’s normal reaction body, and it passes quickly. You, as in the previous case, will have to use condoms in the next week.

If you miss two tablets in a row during the first two weeks after your period, take two tablets as soon as you remember and take two more tablets the next day. After this, take your tablets as usual. Use condoms for the next seven days. You may notice slight spotting after this interruption in taking your pills.

If you miss two tablets in the third week of your menstrual cycle, or if you miss three or more tablets in any of the first three weeks after taking your first tablet, you should start a new pack of tablets as soon as you realize that you are forgot to take birth control pills, and throw away partially used packaging. Take one tablet daily and use condoms for seven days. Please note that if you start a new pack before you have finished the previous one, you risk not having your period because your hormones will not return to normal (you will not have a “withdrawal” week). But you may well have breakthrough bleeding, which usually occur after missing several tablets.

You do not need to do anything if you miss a pill during the fourth week of the 28-day pack combination tablets. These are just dummy pills that are only needed to support your habit. daily intake tablets. The main thing is to remember to start next package during!

If you started a new pack late or missed one or more tablets and had unprotected sex, you should use emergency contraception to reduce your risk of becoming pregnant. These drugs include the drugs “Postinor”, “Zhenale”, “Ginepristone” and “Escapelle”. They can be used within the first 24-96 hours (that is, up to 4 days) after unprotected intercourse, but they are most effective if used within the first 12 hours. Therefore, it is better for you to contact your gynecologist as soon as possible.

If you have any doubts about your further actions After you forgot to take a birth control pill, do not delay your visit to the gynecologist - thereby you will reduce the likelihood of an unwanted pregnancy. If at this time you enter into sexual intercourse, don't forget to use condoms!