What should I do if I miss a pill (combined pill)? - Your contraception guide
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
This advice is about combined contraceptive pills, except Eloine, Qlaira and Zoely.
If you're using one of these types of combined pill, get advice or read the patient information leaflets that can be found on the electronic Medicines Compendium (eMC) website:
See What should I do if I miss a pill (progestogen-only pill)? for information about missed pills and the progestogen-only pill.
What if I have missed 1 pill?
If you have missed 1 pill anywhere in the pack or started a new pack 1 day late, you're still protected against pregnancy.
You should:
- take the last pill you missed now, even if this means taking 2 pills in 1 day
- carry on taking the rest of the pack as normal
- take your 7-day pill-free break as normal, or if you're on an everyday (ED) pill, take your dummy (inactive) pills
You do not need to use extra contraception.
What if I have missed 2 or more pills?
If you have missed 2 to 7 pills anywhere in the pack or started a new pack 2 or more days late (48 hours or more), your protection against pregnancy may be affected.
What you need to do next depends on how far into the pack you are.
Week 1 (days 1 to 7)
If you’ve missed 2 to 7 pills in the first week of a pack, or you’ve started a new pack 2 or more days late, you may need emergency contraception if you’ve had unprotected sex. Contact a sexual health clinic, doctor, nurse, or pharmacist urgently.
Take the last pill you missed, even if that means taking 2 in a day, and leave any earlier missed pills. Use extra contraception, such as condoms, for the next 7 days.
Then take the rest of the pills in your pack as normal. Take your 7-day pill-free break or dummy pills as normal too before you begin your next pack.
Week 2 (days 8 to 14)
If you’ve missed 2 to 7 pills in week 2 of a pack, take the last pill you missed even if that means taking 2 pills in a day and leave any earlier missed pills.
You do not need emergency contraception, but use extra contraception, such as condoms, for the next 7 days.
Then take the rest of the pills in your pack as normal. Take your 7-day pill break or dummy pills as normal too before you begin your next pack.
Week 3 (days 15 to 21)
If you’ve missed 2 to 7 pills in week 3 of a pack, take the last pill you missed even if that means taking 2 pills in a day and leave any earlier missed pills.
You do not need emergency contraception, but use extra contraception, such as condoms, for the next 7 days.
If your pack usually has 21 pills in it, take the rest of the pills in your pack as normal and start a new pack the next day.
If your pack usually has 28 pills in it, take the rest of the active pills (the first 21 pills in the pack) as usual. When you have taken the last of the active pills, start a new pack the next day.
This means you do not have your pill-free break or your dummy pills.
You may not have a withdrawal bleed like you are used to.
More than 7 pills missed
If you've missed 8 or more pills straight after each other, you will not be protected against pregnancy. If you have had unprotected sex, you may need to do a pregnancy test or take emergency contraception.
Contact a sexual health clinic, doctor, nurse or pharmacist urgently.
What if I'm not sure what to do?
If you're not sure what to do:
- continue to take your pill
- use another method of contraception, such as condoms
- get advice as soon as possible
Why this advice may be different from the advice in your contraceptive leaflet
You may find the advice on this page differs from advice provided in the contraceptive manufacturer's patient information leaflets.
The information on this page is based on recommendations issued by the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Authority (MHRA).
The recommendations are evidence-based, which means they're supported by a large amount of scientific research.
These recommendations are used in the FPA's combined pill patient information leaflet.
The manufacturer's advice may be more cautious and say there's a risk of pregnancy if you have missed 1 pill or a pill is taken more than 12 hours after the usual time.
Where to get further advice
You can get advice from:
- a contraception (family planning) clinic
- an NHS walk-in centre
- NHS 111
- the FPA
- a GP
- a pharmacist
Find sexual health services near you (including contraception clinics)
Page last reviewed: 14 February 2025
Next review due: 14 February 2025