Missed Contraceptive Pills

What advice should be given to a woman who misses only one COCP?

- Take the missed pill as soon as you remember, even if this means taking two pills in one day - Continue to take the rest of the pack as normal - Additional contraception is not required

What advice should be given to a woman who misses two or more COCPs towards the end of her pill packet?

- Take the most recent missed pill as soon as you remember, even if this means taking two pills in one day (do not take more than 2 pills in a day) - Continue to take the rest of the pack as normal - Use additional contraception (condoms) for the next 7 days - If once she has caught up with her most recent pill there are <7 pills left in the packet do not take the pill break and move onto the next packet

What advice should be given to a woman who misses two or more COCPs?

- Take the most recent missed pill as soon as you remember, even if this means taking two pills in one day (do not take more than 2 pills in a day) - Continue to take the rest of the pack as normal - Use additional contraception (condoms) for the next 7 days - If she has had unprotected sex in 7 days prior to the first missed pill then advise emergency contraception

What advice should be given to a woman who misses a POP?

- Take the most recent missed pill as soon as you remember, even if this means taking two pills in one day (do not take more than two pills in a day) - Continue to take the rest of the pack as normal - Use condoms for the next 2-7 days

What should a woman do if she takes the COCP and has continuing vomiting or severe diarrhoea?

Continue to take pills as usual wherever possible. Treat every 24 hours with vomiting and diarrhoea as a missed pill day, even if the pill has been taken. Follow normal missed pill advice. For one missed pill day no additional contraception is needed. For two or more missed pill days condoms are needed for 7 days.

What should a woman do if she takes the POP and has continuing vomiting or severe diarrhoea?

Continue to take pills as usual wherever possible. Treat every 24 hours with vomiting and diarrhoea as a missed pill day, even if the pill has been taken. For even one missed pill day condoms are required for 2-7 days.

What advice should be given to a woman who misses a POP and has unprotected sex in the following 2 days?

Emergency contraception is required

When is a COCP considered as 'missed'?

If a woman goes > 24 hours without taking a pill

In what circumstances does a woman require emergency contraception with missed POPs?

If she has any unprotected sex when she hasn't reliably taken two doses of the POP prior.

When is a POP considered missed?

POPs need to be taken at the same time every day. A POP is missed if it is taken: - > 3 hours after the usual time (old generation) - > 12 hours after the usual time (new generation)

What should a woman do if she vomits within two hours of taking a contraceptive pill?

She should take another immediately