Scarleteen

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

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.

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

*if not, not of not

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

No worries, it would be the strip of 21.