ovulation after missed pill

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-02-2004
ovulation after missed pill
2
Mon, 11-15-2004 - 7:21pm

How soon after a missed pill can you ovulate?

Thanks

Luv

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-14-2004
Mon, 11-15-2004 - 8:54pm
Well, I think that really depends on a woman`s body chemistry so I don`t think that anyone can really give a definitive answer. If you take your missed pill at the same time as your next day`s pill, it`s still pretty unlikely that ovulation will occur although it`s not really known how much of a decrease in your protection is present for the next 7 days. Now, for the seven days things, after you miss a pill, it`s recommended that you definitely use back-up, like a condom, until you`ve taken your next seven pills correctly and consistently - that way, if you did ovulate by some chance after you missed a pill, it increases your protection against an unwanted pregnancy by preventing sperm from entering you until the egg would, presumably, no longer be viable.

If anyone else can explain this better, feel free to!

I hope this helps you out.

Lena

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Mon, 11-15-2004 - 8:58pm
I don't think anyone knows for sure, probably several days as the follicle has to ripen. Ovulating from a single missed pill may depend on things like which pill you miss, how correctly you had been taking the rest of your pills and how sensitive you are to hormonal fluctuations. The first and last pills are the most important because the interval between them defines your hormone free period and if you go more than 7 24-hour days you loose your protection. Missing one pill mid pack may not be such a problem. The FDA and manufacturers said for years that there was no need for back-up if only one pill was missed. Apparently there were at least some unintended pregnancies from missing a single pill as the FDA has rethought the matter and is now recommending that the labeling instructions be changed to say back-up is recommended for 7 days if a pill is missed. Does this help?

Good luck,

      Jill