Late Birth Control Pill!

[Digdawg]

Hi Scarleteen! I need some advice.

I woke up this morning forgetting to take my pill, and only realized it about four hours later and took it. This is the first week of this pack. I had vaginal sex with my boyfriend on Tuesday, and used condoms and had him pull out, and I’ve been using the pill almost perfectly for about a year now. Should I be concerned and take my emergency contraceptive, or do I not need to?

Thanks!

[Mo]

If you're taking a combination pill (which is the most common kind most of birth control pill), a pill isn't considered "late" until it's twelve hours after your regular pill-taking time, so four hours shouldn't impact its effectiveness at all and emergency contraception won't be necessary.

[Digdawg]

Really? So I shouldn’t ovulate at all?

[Sam W]

Correct, the four hour delay shouldn't effect how well the pill is working.

Too, it can help to remember that the pill prevents pregnancy in three ways: preventing ovulation, thickening cervical mucus so sperm cells are less able to get to or into the cervix, making the lining of the uterus less hospitable for a fertilized egg to implant in.

[Digdawg]

Ah, I see! Perhaps I’m confusing it with the three hour window rule for the mini pill. My sister also explained to me that it takes a while for hormones to leave my system, which makes sense seeing as I stop taking pills on a Sunday and usually get my period that Tuesday.

[Sam W]

That's an easy thing to get mixed up! And you're right that the mini-pill has a much smaller window of time where you can miss it than the combination pill does.

[Digdawg]

So overall, I have nothing to worry about since it’s the combination pill? Sounds a lot better than what my anxiety was saying!

[Sam W]

Yep, you've got it right! And it sounds like this article might come in handy right now: Anxiety Lies