If you’re on the combined contraceptive pill and you miss a pill, what you need to do depends on:

• How many pills you have missed (you have missed a pill when it’s more than 24 hours since you should have taken it)
• When you missed your pill (where you are in the pack)
• The type of combined pill you’re taking

The advice below for combined contraceptive pills does not apply for Daylette, Eloine, Qlaira and Zoely. If you’re using one of these, please message us, talk to your GP or sexual health clinic, or read the Patient Information Leaflet to find out what to do.

If you’re taking the progesterone-only pill (POP or mini pill), some have a 3-hour window and some have a 12-hour window of effectiveness. If your pill has a 12-hour window, it’s a desogestrel pill. The missed pill advice will be specific to your type of mini pill.

Please see the relevant section below for missed pill advice for your type of contraception.

You’ve missed one pill. Take the last pill you missed now. Carry on taking the rest of the pack as usual.

If you’re in the first week after a pill-free break, emergency contraception (EC) isn’t usually needed unless you’ve already missed a pill this week or you missed a pill in the seven days before your pill-free break. If you’re in any other week, EC isn’t usually needed, unless you’ve missed another pill in the last seven days.

You’ve missed two or more pills. Take the last pill you missed now. Leave any earlier missed pills.

Carry on taking the rest of the pack as usual and use condoms or do not have sex for the next seven days.

If you’re due to start a pill-free break within the next seven days, don’t take the break, go straight on to your next pack.

If you’re in the first week after a pill-free break and you had unprotected sex during the break or during week one, you may need emergency contraception (EC). Access our emergency contraception service or talk to a doctor, nurse or pharmacist as soon as possible.

If you’re in any other week, EC isn’t usually needed unless you’ve also missed another pill in the last seven days.

You’re still protected against pregnancy if you’re taking a desogestrel pill such as Cerazette or Cerelle, and you’re less than 12 hours late taking your pill.

Take the missed pill now. Take the next pill at your usual time.

You do not need to use extra contraception. If you’ve had unprotected sex, you do not need emergency contraception.

If you’re taking a traditional mini pill, such as Micronor, Norgeston or Noriday please see above.

You’re not protected against pregnancy if you’re taking a traditional mini pill (progesterone-only pill or POP) and you’re more than 3 hours late taking your pill.

Take a pill now. Only take one, even if you’ve missed more than one pill.

Use extra contraception, such as condoms, for the next two days (48 hours), or do not have sex.

Take the next pill at your usual time — this may mean taking two pills on the same day (one now and one at the usual time), this is not harmful. Carry on taking your remaining pills each day at your usual time.

If you’ve had unprotected sex during the two days after you missed your pill, you may need emergency contraception. Access our emergency contraception service or talk to a doctor, nurse or pharmacist as soon as possible.

If you’re taking a desogestrel pill please see below.

It takes two days for the mini pill to thicken cervical mucus so that sperm cannot get through or survive.