Stopping or skipping birth control pills. What should I do if I forgot to take my birth control pill?

Modern methods contraception will become reliable and safe only when women take these medications seriously and responsibly. The pills should be taken according to a certain system and with strict adherence to the time frame, so that the question does not arise - what to do if I missed birth control pill.

Each package contains instructions indicating the dosage, time and method of use. But sometimes it happens that for some reason the next appointment is missed. After a certain time, the contraceptive properties of the drug decrease, and this leads to an increased risk of becoming pregnant.

What should I do if I missed my birth control pill?

Combined birth control pills contain the progestin estrogen. Typically, these drugs come in 28 tablets per package, of which 21 contain hormones. If you miss taking one hormonal pill in the first week, you should use the remedy emergency contraception, and then - according to the schedule. If you are more than 12 hours late, you must immediately take a pill and use local contraceptives for the next week. If the omission occurred in the second week, additional funds do not need to be used. The same should be done if you missed a dose in the third week.

If you miss two tablets, you should take the missed tablet within 12 hours and then take it as scheduled. Be sure to use additional protective equipment during the week. In some cases, it is possible to take two tablets at once using other methods of contraception.

What should I do if I missed my birth control pill and had sex?

During the period when two tablets are missed and you have had sexual intercourse, you should use emergency contraception. The next day, resume taking the pills according to the previous regimen. If a woman does not want to use emergency contraception, the pills can be taken further as scheduled, but until the next menstrual cycle It is necessary to protect yourself with mechanical contraceptives.

If you missed taking 2 tablets, but did not have sexual intercourse during this period, you can take both tablets at once, and then follow the schedule. In case of proximity it is necessary to use local remedies protection against pregnancy.

It is possible to take two tablets at once if this is prescribed in the instructions, because some drugs can cause side effects in case of overdose.

What to do if you missed one birth control pill?

When using new generation birth control pills, which come in different colors, remember that each color corresponds to a specific cycle. Therefore, missing one tablet cannot be replaced by another color. In this case, you should immediately take the missed dose and take the next dose on time, even if you have to take 2 tablets in one day. Additional contraceptive methods must be used.

If you missed taking non-hormonal pills white– placebo, there is no need to drink pills, you also don’t have to use additional means of protection.

In any case, after missing a dose of any contraceptive drug I should see a doctor and ask him what to do if I missed my birth control pill.

When a woman decides to protect herself from unwanted pregnancy using oral contraceptives, she must take this step seriously. In order not to miss taking a contraceptive in the everyday hustle and bustle, you should come up with a reminder for yourself. This could be a note in your wallet, a beep on your phone, or a message attached to your mirror or monitor.

If I missed taking a birth control pill, what should I do? Do I need to continue taking the drug and is pregnancy possible? Before prescribing oral contraceptives, most doctors immediately warn their patients that hormonal contraception is reliable only if the pills are taken on time, without much delay. But still, in the bustle of days, many women at least sometimes forget to take a contraceptive.

Algorithm further actions largely depends on the situation, the day of the cycle when the drug was not taken. So, if a woman missed taking her first contraceptive pill, that is, she was going to use this type contraception, but took the pill only on the second day menstrual bleeding- it's okay. According to the instructions, you can start taking it before the 5th day of the cycle, but in this case, you need to use additional, barrier or chemical contraception for the next 7-10 days, since pregnancy while taking birth control is possible in this situation. Well, after these days, if you strictly follow the instructions, you can completely relax and surrender to your feelings.

If you missed 1 contraceptive pill, you need to find out what to do from the instructions. If this is the first two weeks of taking the drug, then you just need to quickly take the missed pill and then use protection for several days. If this is the last week of taking the drug, there are 7 or fewer tablets left, then you need not only to quickly take the missed tablet, but also not to take a seven-day break before starting a new package of the drug.

If you missed 2 birth control pills from the beginning of the cycle, that is, the very first ones, there are several options for the development of events.
1. Continue taking the pills, but use protection for the next 10 days.
2. Do not continue to take the drug. But keep in mind that when you start taking it in the next cycle, you may experience side effects, characteristic of the first months of taking a contraceptive, when the body “gets used” to the new hormonal background.
But in any case, there is, albeit a small, probability of pregnancy due to errors in taking the drug. That is, the question of whether it is possible to get pregnant if you miss a birth control pill does not even require discussion, undoubtedly yes.

Also, errors in taking the drug can result in intermenstrual discharge, sometimes even heavy bleeding, when I missed a birth control pill, my period started, but nevertheless I need to finish the package to the end.

And yet, what to do if an unplanned conception occurs? Does data make a difference? hormonal drugs to the embryo? Doctors say that if a woman misses a birth control pill and becomes pregnant, there is no need to have an abortion. You can leave the child. But, of course, do not take any contraceptives during pregnancy. If the child is unwanted, you can have an abortion, including a medical one, if the duration of pregnancy allows and there are financial possibilities.

Hormonal drugs with contraceptive properties are recognized as the most effective method preventing unwanted pregnancy. Correct technique birth control pills according to the manufacturer's instructions ensures an effect in 98% of cases. But what to do if you missed 1 birth control pill?

The degree to which the effectiveness of the contraceptive decreases depends on the amount of time lost. If a woman forgot to take a contraceptive pill, then the right decision There will be local use of barrier methods of contraception for up to 7 days. Further tactics will depend on the day of the menstrual cycle. Emergency measures are considered an exception to the rule.

Mechanism of action of hormonal contraceptives

Single-component progesterone-based drugs are taken at the same time. If for any reason a woman does not take the medicine, then it is taken over the next 12 hours. Many gynecologists do not recommend drinking loading dose hormones for a short period of time due to the likelihood of side effects such as:

• liver dysfunction;
• functional disorder of the digestive system;
• the appearance of intermenstrual bleeding or amenorrhea;
• development of thrombosis;
• disturbances in the microbial landscape of the vagina;
• increased pressure;
• weight gain;
• migraine;
• discomfort in the mammary glands.

The high dose of the hormone contained in one pill does not provide for its repeated use before the prescribed time.

Monophasic contraceptives contain equal amounts of estrogen and progestogen, which remain unchanged throughout the course of use. Such drugs include Regulon, Janine, Femoden, Silhouette, Gestoden, Logest, Rigevidon, Miniziston, Yarina, Jess. These medications are taken from the first day of the menstrual cycle. If at least one tablet was missed, doctors recommend switching to spermicides or condoms for the next 7 days. The new package is drunk from days 1 to 21 of the menstrual cycle. After a seven-day break, they continue to drink a monophasic drug even if their periods have not stopped.

Actions to take if you miss a pill are presented in the table:

Table 1

Deserves special attention oral contraceptives, which contain natural estrogen (estradiol valearate). This group of hormonal drugs is represented on the pharmacological market by Klaira. The tactics for skipping one tablet of the drug in this case are different.

table 2

Skipping a birth control pill requires the use of additional protection against unwanted pregnancy in the form of non-hormonal local contraception. In such cases, it is recommended to use a cervical cap together with spermicidal gel, a condom or intravaginal suppositories Pharmatex, Benatex.

Biphasic contraceptives, consisting of estrogen and progestin, are widely used among women of different ages(Femoston, Anteovin, Binordiol, Sequilar). In such preparations, the dosage of estrogen is the same in all tablets, and the dose of gestagen changes in the first and second periods of the cycle. The tablets should be taken daily from days 1 to 28 of the cycle.

If for any reason a woman missed taking the medication (lost it or took a break), the untaken pill should be taken as soon as possible within 12 hours. If 2-3 days of administration are missed, the effectiveness of the contraceptive is significantly reduced. However, this is not a reason to refuse to use the drug. The medicine is continued to be taken to avoid premature onset of menstruation. Spermicidal preparations are used topically for the purpose of prevention during sexual intercourse during this period (Patentex, Oval).

Contraindications

Taking birth control pills with high content hormones, it is necessary to understand the degree of risk to the body. A sharp change in hormonal levels negatively affects all organs and systems.

Particularly sensitive to hormonal imbalance women with existing systemic diseases endocrine, genitourinary system(diseases of the liver and kidneys, biliary tract, Crohn's disease).

The following factors are absolute contraindications to the use of emergency contraception:

• current pregnancy;
• lactation period;
• existing blood diseases (coagulation disorders, thrombosis, bleeding of unknown etiology);
• severe liver disease;
• individual intolerance to the drug;
• diabetes mellitus (severe form);

The presence of at least one provoking factor creates the prerequisites for additional consultation with the attending physician.

Once the natural level of hormones is disrupted, it is subsequently difficult to restore. To restore normal physiological indicators it may take months or even years.

A decrease in efficiency is noted when functional disorders digestive system (Crohn's disease).

Memo

A systemic contraceptive taken in a timely manner prevents unplanned pregnancy. Contraceptives used topically reduce the likelihood of fertilization in the absence of systemic therapy. When deciding on emergency measures prevention, you need to realistically assess the risk of complications due to sudden changes in hormonal levels. Consultation with a gynecologist will be the best option resolution of such a situation.

Maybe you were in a hurry in the morning and forgot to take your pill. Or they went on a business trip, but left the bottle of pills at home and missed a whole week. Or you just decided that you want a child.

Regardless of the reason, almost every woman who takes birth control pills skips days of taking them or gives up oral contraception altogether. But this is a little scary, because you have been faithfully swallowing these contraceptives every day for several years. What happens in the body when you don't drink them for one, two or more days?

Birth control pills prevent you from getting pregnant because they prevent ovulation. Most of them contain two female sex hormones - estrogen and progestin.

These synthetic hormones stabilize hormonal background and do not allow a surge of estrogen, increased content which is a signal to the body that you are ready to ovulate and eggs can be released from the ovaries for fertilization. And your body will react differently to missing one or more pills.

Skipping one pill

Relax. Many women missed taking hormonal contraceptives once or twice. Take the pill as soon as you remember, or take two pills at once the next day at your scheduled time. If you quickly return to your usual routine, then the risk of becoming pregnant is very small.

Skipping two tablets

Double your dose the next two days after missing a dose. The chances of getting pregnant are still very low, so you don't need a backup plan. Although there is a chance that you will experience nausea or intermenstrual bleeding.

Skipping three or more tablets

The case is already more complicated. At this point, a hormonal imbalance occurs, which reduces the effectiveness of the pills. If you have had sex during this period, then use emergency contraception. And forget about the old pack of pills, start a new one the next day. You should also use a back-up form of contraception (such as condoms) for one week.

You decide to stop taking birth control pills completely
Once you stop taking birth control pills, the supporting hormones that prevented pregnancy disappear from your body and you can ovulate again. That is, to conceive a child you do not need to wait for some time after stopping taking hormonal pills. But unless your target is a child, condoms or another form of contraception are a must!

The body's reaction to stopping hormonal contraceptives largely depends on the reasons why you started taking the pills in the first place. You could drink them not only to prevent unwanted pregnancy, but also for a more regular cycle, reducing cramps during menstruation, improving PMS symptoms etc. The tablets could also be used to treat polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

When you stop taking birth control pills, you will likely experience the same problems that you tried to solve with hormonal treatments. That is, they can return:

• irregular, heavy or painful periods;
• convulsions;
• acne;
• signs of PMS: headaches, painful sensations in the chest.

Please note that stopping birth control pills sometimes causes amenorrhea: you may not have a period for 2-3 months as your body adjusts to normal hormone production. If you haven't had your period for more than three months, take a pregnancy test and see your doctor.

Also, about 20% of women feel cramping or discomfort in the lower abdomen as the ovaries prepare to release a mature egg.

Another sign of ovulation: increased amount cervical mucus (fluid that looks like egg white) on your underwear.

For some women hormonal pills cause unwanted side effects: bloating, depression, decreased libido, headaches. Therefore, refusing them contributes to the loss excess weight, improving mood, increasing libido. But this is very individual. If a friend says she feels fantastic after going off the pill, that doesn't necessarily mean you should stop taking it. After all, they reduce the risk of cancer of the ovaries, uterus and colon and rectum. And the longer you take hormonal contraceptives, the better they protect you from these dangerous diseases.

Conclusion

Missed a pill or two? Take them as soon as possible. Missed 3 or more tablets? Start new packaging and use fallback method contraception for 7 days.

Before you stop taking birth control pills, consult your gynecologist. Oral contraception not only prevents unwanted pregnancy, but also protects your health. As long as you don't have any problems, there's no reason to worry about taking hormone pills for too long. For most women, the benefits of taking them outweigh the possible risks.

Birth control pills are oral contraceptives that prevent 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 course of action depends on the chosen drug and the day of the cycle in which the woman forgot to take the 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. The contraceptive effect is reduced, and 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 a new pack 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 are not indicated.

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. It is recommended to take the 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 is 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. In such a 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. Hormonal changes develop, 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 longer the recovery period. 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:

• Hormonal balance is restored.
• Follicle maturation begins.
• Ovulation occurs.
• The endometrium is prepared for the possible implantation of the fertilized egg.
• 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 of 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. No special treatment is 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. Multiple pregnancy is possible.

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.