Reviewed by Usama Ali, MPharm (GPhC: 2224726). Last reviewed: April 2026.
Take the missed pill as soon as you remember, even if that means taking two in one day. What you do next depends on your pill type, how many pills you missed, and where you are in the pack.
For most people, one missed pill does not cause a problem. Use our missed pill tool for personalised advice based on your specific pill.
Take the missed pill as soon as you remember. If you realise the next day, take yesterday's pill and today's pill at the same time. You should not take more than two pills in a single day.
What you do after that depends on which pill you take, how late you are, and where you are in your pack. The rules are different for the combined pill and the mini pill, and some pills have their own specific guidance.
"Missing a pill happens to most people at some point," says Usama Ali, MPharm (GPhC: 2224726), pharmacist at Contraception Direct. "The important thing is knowing what to do next. In most cases, one missed pill does not mean you are going to get pregnant."
A combined pill counts as missed if it is more than 24 hours late. What you need to do depends on how many pills you missed and which week of the pack you are in.
Take the missed pill straight away. Continue the rest of the pack as normal. No extra precautions are needed. You are still protected.
Take the most recent missed pill as soon as you remember (leave any earlier missed pills in the pack). Continue the rest of the pack as normal. Use condoms or avoid sex for the next 7 days.
Where you are in the pack matters. If you missed pills in week 1 (pills 1 to 7) and had unprotected sex during the pill-free break or the missed days, you may need emergency contraception. If you missed pills in week 3 (pills 15 to 21), skip the 7 day break and start the next pack straight away to maintain protection.
These rules follow the FSRH combined hormonal contraception guideline and apply to most standard combined pills such as Microgynon, Rigevidon, Yasmin, and Gedarel. Some pills have different rules (see below).
Not all combined pills follow the standard 21/7 missed pill rules. These have their own guidance based on their manufacturer's SPC:
| Pill | Late window | Key difference |
|---|---|---|
| Most combined pills | 24 hours | Standard FSRH rules. 21 active pills, 7 day break. |
| Eloine | 12 hours | Shorter late window. 24 active + 4 inactive pills per pack. |
| Qlaira | 12 hours | Multiphasic. Different rules depending on pill colour and day. |
| Zoely | 12 hours | 24 active + 4 inactive. Day-specific rules for missed pills. |
| Drovelis | 24 hours | 24 active + 4 inactive. Skip inactives if missed near end of pack. |
| Logynon / TriRegol | 24 hours | Triphasic. Standard rules but week 1 has lowest dose. |
If you take one of these pills, check the patient information leaflet in your pack or use our missed pill tool for guidance specific to your pill.
The mini pill has a tighter timing window than the combined pill. What counts as "late" depends on the type you take.
Desogestrel mini pills (Cerelle, Cerazette, Feanolla, Zelleta) count as late if taken more than 12 hours after your usual time. Traditional mini pills (Noriday, Norgeston) count as late after just 3 hours. Slynd (drospirenone) allows 24 hours, the same as the combined pill.
If you are late: take the pill straight away, continue the rest of the pack as normal, and use condoms for the next 48 hours. If you had unprotected sex in the 48 hours before the missed pill, you may need emergency contraception. The FSRH POP guideline recommends speaking to a pharmacist or clinician to assess this.
Vomiting within 2 hours of taking most pills means your body may not have absorbed the hormones. Some pills like Qlaira have a longer absorption window of 3 to 4 hours. If you vomit within this time, take another pill from the pack and follow your pill's missed pill rules.
Severe diarrhoea (very watery, multiple times a day) can also reduce absorption. One loose stool is not a concern. If severe diarrhoea continues for more than 24 hours, treat it as a missed pill and use condoms until you have taken active pills correctly for the required number of days (7 for combined, 2 for mini).
Inactive pills (also called placebo, dummy, or sugar pills) do not contain any hormones. They are there to help you keep the habit of taking a pill every day. Missing an inactive pill does not affect your contraceptive protection at all.
Throw away the missed inactive pill so you stay on track with your pack, and take the next pill at your usual time.
Emergency contraception may be needed in some situations. For the combined pill, the highest risk is missing pills in week 1 (pills 1 to 7) if you had unprotected sex during the preceding pill-free break or during the missed pill days. For the mini pill, emergency contraception may be needed if you had unprotected sex in the 48 hours before the late pill.
Emergency contraception is available free from pharmacies, sexual health clinics, and GPs. Contraception Direct does not provide emergency contraception. If you think you may need it, contact your nearest pharmacy or call NHS 111 for advice. Acting quickly matters, as some options are more effective the sooner they are taken.
Not sure which rules apply to you? Our interactive missed pill tool walks you through it step by step. You select your pill, tell us what happened, and get personalised advice based on your specific situation.
The tool covers every oral contraceptive pill available in the UK, including Qlaira, Zoely, Eloine, Drovelis, and all desogestrel brands. It also tells you if emergency contraception may be relevant and where to get it.
Set a daily alarm on your phone for the same time each day. Keep your pack somewhere visible, like next to your toothbrush. If you regularly forget, consider asking your pharmacist about a pill with a wider timing window (the combined pill and Slynd both allow 24 hours late).
If missing pills is a regular problem, it may be worth discussing a different method of contraception with your pharmacist. Long-acting methods like the implant or coil do not rely on remembering a daily pill. Your pharmacist can refer you to the right service.
With Contraception Direct, you can book a free phone consultation to discuss your options, get a repeat supply, or switch to a pill that suits you better.
Our pharmacists can talk you through your situation on a free call. If you need a repeat supply or want to switch pills, they can help with that too.
Free NHS service. No judgement. Confidential.
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