FAQS
All your burning questions answered here!

If you missed one pill…

If you missed one pill anywhere in the pack or started a new pack one day late, you’re still protected against pregnancy. You should:

• Take the last pill you missed now
• Carry on taking the rest of the pack as normal
• Take your 7-day pill-free break as normal, or if you are on the
28 pill pack, continue taking your inactive pills
• Extra contraception is not necessary

If you missed more than one pill…
If you miss two or more pills anywhere in the pack or started a new pack two or more days late (48 hours or more), your protection against pregnancy may be affected. You should:

• Take the last pill you missed now
• Carry on taking the rest of the pack as normal
• Use extra contraception such as condoms for the next 7 days

When you start the next pack after missing two or more pills:

• If there are 7 or more pills left in the pack after the last missed pill, finish the pack

Less than 3 hours late

• You are still protected against pregnancy if you are on a traditional progestogen-only pill and you are less than 3 hours late in taking the pill
• You should continue to take the missed pill as soon as you remember. Take the next pill at the usual time
• Use of extra contraception or emergency contraception is not necessary

 More than 3 hours late

• You are not protected against pregnancy if you are on a traditional progestogen-only pill and you are less than 3 hours late in taking the pill
• You should continue to take the missed pill as soon as you remember, but only take one pill even if you have missed more than one
• Take the next pill at the usual time
• Carry on taking your remaining pills each day at the usual time
• It is advisable to use extra contraceptives such as condoms for the next 48 hours after you remember to take the missed pill
• If you have unprotected sex during these two days, emergency contraception may be necessary. It is important that you seek the advice of your doctor or pharmacist immediately

Although some women on the Pill reported to having put on weight, it is very questionable that this could be traced back to the Pill.

However, with some pills you might put on weight when you start taking them, due to water retention, which makes you feel bigger. Today however, there are modern contraceptive pills which can avoid such water retention to some extent.

You may also find your appetite increases in the first three months of pill taking, so of course if you eat more you may gain weight!

Compared to modern hormonal methods, condoms are less reliable and effective in protecting against pregnancy but they are the only method that will protect against STIs, including HIV/AIDS.

The emergency pill must be taken within 72 hours after unprotected sex. The sooner it is taken, the more effective it is. It is most effective if it is taken within the first 12 hours after unprotected sex.

Oral contraceptives are highly effective when used consistently and correctly. The prevention of pregnancy is the greatest benefit of the combined pill. When taken correctly, the combined pill is one of the most reliable methods in preventing pregnancy. Make sure you take the combined pill according to your doctor’s instructions, as well as the instructions in the package leaflet.