Silly question? (Pills, lateness, not a scare)

[Zombiechu]

Hello, I've recently started taking the combined pill marvelon, since last Friday and I have taken it at 8 o'clock in the evening or a few minutes to 8 each time because determined to be a perfect user. Now I know this is Probably a very stupid question but today I took at 12 minutes past 8 (shock horror) and am wondering if this makes it late at all? It is my 6th pill and and I was advised to use back up contraception (condoms in my case) until I'd taken 7 pills (I started taking them mid cycle(she knows this) , and I am tri cycling them on the advice of the sexual health nurse) I haven't done anything with a risk yet this cycle as I'm waiting till the 8th or 9th pill. I'm just wondering if the fact that I took the pill 12 Minutes later than usual makes it late or is not perfect use? What is perfect use anyhoo?

Thanks for reading and hope to hear back soon

[Sam W]

Hi Zombiechu,

Nope, you actually have a 12 hour grace period before your pill is even considered late, so a few minutes late will not matter at all.

I'm glad to hear you were advised to use a back-up method. Just so you know we, and a few other organizations, recommend actually using a back-up method for the whole first pack, rather than just the first week, for extra protection.

[Zombiechu]

Ah great thanks and cheers for getting back so soon I was told about the grace period but wasn't sure if it was twelve hours after your last pill of twelve hours from 8 o clock?? And yee, bf and I have defo agreed on condoms for the first pack , and withdrawal for the rest of not condoms sorry tmi

[Zombiechu]

*if not, not of not

[Zombiechu]

Oh and sorry again but by pack did you mean a whole box (three strips of 21 pills) or a whole strip of 21?

[Ashleah]

No worries, it would be the strip of 21.