missed mini pill, please help

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-16-2004
missed mini pill, please help
8
Sun, 10-17-2004 - 11:17am
I usually take my micronor pill at bedtime but missed last night and remembered this morning (9 hours late). Unfortunately we had sex last night--more than once. What do I do??? I'm very careful normally--only missed one pill before but did not have sex that night and used backup for several days following. Do I need to see my doctor? Do I need to take some kind of morning after pill? Are those prescription only?

I was on a regular pill (triphasil) for years and years and did well but had to switch to the mini pill due to high blood pressure (I'm 41). I do NOT want more children!!!

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-11-2004
Sun, 10-17-2004 - 1:56pm
The mini pill often doesn't prevent ovulation and relies mainly on thickening the cervical mucus. If you didn't take your pill, then the effects from the previous one would have already worn off which means you were not protected last night. If you're having periods regularly, then you are probably ovulating regularly too, which means you're probably at risk of pregnancy from this. You should call your doctor for advice right away, and if you absolutely don't want a pregnancy, then you might want emergency contraception just to be safe. In most places, that does require a prescription, but you can have your doctor call it in to a pharmacy.

If you're having problems remembering to take the mini pill, then have you ever considered trying an IUD? Those are extremely effective and don't require having to remember anything daily.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-16-2004
Sun, 10-17-2004 - 2:28pm
I'll call my obgyn tomorrow (monday) morning to ask for emergency pills then. As for an IUD, I'm a heavy period/lots of cramps kind of person unless I'm on a pill, so I never thought an IUD would be appropriate for me.

Thanks for your input Kellyann!
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Sun, 10-17-2004 - 2:51pm
Hi nanibird, welcome!

"I'll call my obgyn tomorrow (monday) morning to ask for emergency pills then."

Hon, you should call your doctor NOW!

I agree with kellyann_25 you are at risk of pregnancy. EC is time sensitive. It is most effective if taken within the first 72 hours after the incident of concern and the effectiveness decreases the further it's taken from the incident. You might want to look at the information on the EC site at: http://ec.princeton.edu/ Let us know how you’re doing, ok?

Hugs,

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-11-2004
Sun, 10-17-2004 - 3:18pm
You would be a good candidate for a Mirena IUD. It has a small amount of progesterone in it and it results in dramatically lessened bleeding during periods, and some women have no periods at all. I was on the mini pill for about a year before I got my Mirena IUD. My main concern with the mini pill was lack of effectiveness and worrying about taking them on time, so it's been nice never having to think about remembering pills. My first period after I got the IUD was so light I didn't need anything more than pantiliners. I used to have such heavy bleeding that my iron levels were chronically low.
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-16-2004
Sun, 10-17-2004 - 8:43pm
Oh jeez now I'm really worried...no way in this small town to get something prescribed before tomorrow morning...If I don't take an emergency pill before then (that would make 36-40 hrs after the fact) will it be too late??
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Sun, 10-17-2004 - 10:07pm
The earlier the better but EC is effective if taken within 72 hours of the event so I hope you will be fine. Let us know how you're doing, ok?

Hugs,

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-16-2004
Mon, 10-18-2004 - 1:01pm
Well I went to our local planned parenthood office this morning (got the run-around at the obgyn office, supposedly someone will call back this afternoon but I was too wigged out to wait that long) and the very nice people there gave me the Plan B pills to take, which I did right away. only $34 and Oh the relief! Thanks to you message board folks for your help. BTW I also got an extra pack to take home in case I'm ever dumb enough to forget again--altho will be EXTRA careful and maybe I will look into an IUD. Or better yet, talk my husband into a vasectomy...our baby days are DONE.
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Mon, 10-18-2004 - 4:58pm
Good for you! If you have problems remembering your pill time you can set the alarm on a sports watch or a reminder message on your cell phone, PDA or computer to alert you. Let us know how you're doing, ok?

Hugs,

      Jill