Missed Birth Control Pill Calculator (What to Do Now)
Missed or late birth control pill? Get the CDC steps for combined pills, progestin-only (norethindrone, norgestrel) and drospirenone pills: what to take now, whether you need backup contraception or emergency contraception, and the next pack.
How it works
CDC U.S. Selected Practice Recommendations (2024) · combined or drospirenone pill: late < 24 h or 1 pill missed (24–48 h) → take it now, no backup · ≥ 2 pills missed (≥ 48 h) → take the latest missed pill, backup for 7 days, skip the hormone-free pills if in the last week, consider emergency contraception if missed in week 1 after unprotected sex · norethindrone/norgestrel pill: > 3 h late → take it now, backup for 2 days
What to do after a missed pill depends on the pill type and how long it has been. Combined pills (and the drospirenone-only pill) have a 24-hour margin: one late or missed pill only needs to be taken as soon as you remember. Missing two or more in a row lowers protection, so you need backup for 7 days, may need to skip the hormone-free week, and should consider emergency contraception if the pills were missed in the first week after unprotected sex. Traditional progestin-only pills (norethindrone, norgestrel) have only a 3-hour window and need 2 days of backup. These steps come from the CDC's 2024 contraception practice recommendations.
Worked example
Two combined pills missed in the first week of the pack, with unprotected sex in the last 5 days: take the most recent missed pill now, discard the other missed pills, and continue at your usual time; use condoms or avoid sex until you have taken 7 hormone pills in a row; and consider emergency contraception — talk to a pharmacist or clinician.
Sources: CDC: U.S. Selected Practice Recommendations for Contraceptive Use, 2024 · CDC: Recommended actions after late or missed combined oral contraceptives (2024)
Frequently asked questions
What do I do if I miss one birth control pill?
For combined pills, take it as soon as you remember, even if that means two pills in one day, and carry on as usual — no backup is needed. For a norethindrone or norgestrel progestin-only pill more than 3 hours late, take it and use backup for 2 days.
What if I miss two birth control pills?
Take the most recent missed pill now, throw away the others, and continue the pack. Use condoms or avoid sex until you have taken 7 hormone pills in a row. If it happened in the last week of hormone pills, skip the placebo pills and start a new pack.
Do I need the morning-after pill after missing a pill?
Consider it if you missed two or more combined pills in the first week of a pack, or were more than 3 hours late with a traditional progestin-only pill, and had unprotected sex in the past 5 days. A pharmacist can advise.
What if I miss a placebo (sugar) pill?
It doesn't matter for protection — throw it away and continue the pack on schedule.
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Educational information only, not medical advice or a diagnosis. Discuss your results and any decision with your doctor, midwife or pharmacist.