Took pill late-did I need backup?

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-29-2003
Took pill late-did I need backup?
3
Mon, 10-04-2004 - 8:29am
I am on Ortho-Cyclen and take it regularly between 6 and 7 AM everyday. Last Friday, however, I forgot to take it and didn’t end up taking it until about 4 PM. That night around 11 PM my boyfriend and I had sex without any other means of birth control. Was I safe in doing that?
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Mon, 10-04-2004 - 9:06am
Hi mapper71, welcome back!

Taking a pill that late counts as a miss and this board recommends that you use back-up for 7 days after a missed pill. You were probably safe from the IC on the night of the missed pill but if the miss triggered the ovulation process you might be at risk from any later IC for up to 7 days of correctly taking your active pills. Let us know how you're doing, ok?

Good luck,

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-29-2003
Mon, 10-04-2004 - 10:05am
Well in my packet of pills it says that if you miss one pill take it as soon as you remember and no backup is needed, but if you miss two pills to take them and use backup for 7 days. Is this correct?
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Mon, 10-04-2004 - 9:58pm
The FDA (in the US) has requested a labeling change for oral contraceptives. After a certain date, the patient labeling is supposed to indicate that backup is to be used for seven days for even a single missed pill. 2 hours either side of your target time is considered on-time, between that window and 8 hours is late, and anything more than 8 hours past your target time is considered a miss. More backup never hurt anybody!
Judie
Co-cl for Birth Control
Judie Cl for Birth Control