What do I do if I miss a pill or two?

[LadyBug02]

Hi everyone. What should I do if I miss one or two doses of my Lo/Ovral pill? This is the one question I forgot to ask my doctor. They told me what to do before but I can't remember what they said. I haven't forgotten to take my pill yet but I need to know just in case I do forget.

[Brandye]

You should have a nearly fool-proof method of reminding yurself. Do not miss "one or two." Read the sticky "Caution: Take Only As Directed." The downside of the modern, low-dose pills is that they leave little room for error before the hormone falls below the therapeutic range.

Use condoms for at least a week after missing.

[eminatic]

it depends on the brand. there should be a little packet that comes with your birth control-the instructions on what to do for missed pills are in there.

i am on a low dose birth control, and it says that if you miss one (and it is the only one you have missed in that pack so far) then you do not need a backup method of birth control.

[Brandye]

I do not know how many times it must be said. There are more than forty different pills on the market including name brands and generics. Taking advice from one packet to other pills is not a good idea. There are many different formulations and, while they are all pretty much the same in what they do, some do it a little differently. Sharing instruction sheets or "advice MY doctor gave ME" is not a good idea.

[eminatic]

i was not suggesting that the OP use the directions for my birth control, i was using it as an example. what i suggested was to look for the inserted packet that comes with all hormone contraceptives and read it.

[LadyBug02]

I don't remember if my pills came with a little paper or not. I'll have to check.

[sera300]

Also, look on the website the manufacturer has. There are VERY detailed instructions.

[browneyedgirl]

Your pack definitely should have come with info that you should read. One little recommendation: pretty much all cell phones have alarm clocks built in. Set your alarm to ring (or vibrate) when your supposed to take your pill so you don't forget. Also, you could consider taking a different form of birth control. I'm on the ring, which you just put in once and leave in for three weeks, then take out for a week and put a new one in. It's easy and you can just forget about having anything in you. I can't feel it and neither can my boyfriend during sex (of course, if he puts his fingers in me he can, but you can take it out for up to 3 hours if thats a problem). If you think you're going to forget, why not try the ring, or the patch for that matter? That way you wouldn't have to worry about 'what if I forget?'