Missed pill guidelines

www.fpa.org.uk

Please visit the links below for advice.

Combined pill guidelines

http://www.fpa.org.uk/Information/Readourinformationbooklets/combined

Progesterone only pill guidelines

http://www.fpa.org.uk/Information/Readourinformationbooklets/progestogen

Do you remember which type of pill you are taking?

The progesterone only pills are Cerezette, Femulen, Micronor, Microval Neogest, Norgeston, Noriday. You need to take these pills within three hours each day apart from Cerazette, which has a 12 hour window.

All the other pills are the combined oral contraceptive pill.
Mercilon, Femodette and Loestrin are the lowest dose combined pills and
you need to take extra care if you miss these pills.

Remember you may not have full contraceptive protection if you are taking antibiotics or have diarrhoea
and vomiting. If you have diarrhoea and vomiting you may not be absorbing the contraceptive pill for it to be effective.
We would advise you to use a condom for the time you are ill and for seven days afterwards, or abstain from sex.

Many antibiotics reduce the effectiveness of the combined oral contraceptive pill.

You are advised to use additional methods of contraception (either use a condom or avoid having sex)
whilst taking the antibiotic and for seven days after stopping.

If these seven days run beyond the end of a packet the next packet should be started immediately
without a break.If the antibiotic course lasts for longer than three weeks additional methods of
contraception become unnecessary after 3 weeks.

If you take biphasic or triphasic pills please ask for advice from your practice nurse or GP (e.g. Binovum).