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.
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.
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. Continue the rest of the pack as normal. Use condoms or avoid sex for the next 7 days.
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.
| 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. |
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.
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.
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. If severe diarrhoea continues for more than 24 hours, treat it as a missed pill.
Inactive pills do not contain any hormones. Missing an inactive pill does not affect your contraceptive protection at all. Throw away the missed inactive pill 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 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.
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.
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.