
I TOOK MY BIRTH CONTROL 2 HOURS LATE PROFESSIONAL
In fact, anytime you want further professional advice on the backup question, your health care provider or pharmacist is the best person to give you an answer because they could look up the specifications for the brand of pill you take. In either case, you may find it useful talk with your health care provider about your concerns. At any point in your cycle, if you miss two or more pills, you may need backup. It's a good idea to read the label on your pill very carefully and if you're in doubt, use condoms or other backup methods to practice safer sex. During weeks two, three, and four, you may not need backup if you take the pill once you remember however, this may vary by formulation and type. For combination pills (those that have both estrogen and progestin), if you miss one pill during week one, it’s wise to use backup for at least seven days (assuming you take the missed pill as soon as your remember, even if it means taking two pills at once).

In some cases, your health care provider may have been right to tell you that you're unprotected for that month, but again, it depends on the week of the pack and the type of pill. Missing your pill means you forget to take your pill for 24 hours or you never take it at all. With these pills, taking it more than three hours late may make it ineffective, so using a backup method (such as condoms) for at least 48 hours would be advised.

If you're taking progestin-only pills, it's crucial that you take the pill at the same time every day (within three hours). Taking the pill a few hours late (because you sleep late or forget) may not make a difference in some pills but could leave you unprotected, depending on the type of pill and which week of your cycle you're in at the time. However, setting an alarm is a good way to make sure you're taking your pill on time. You won't ruin your regimen if you take your pill at 7:15 instead of 7:00. In general, it's advised to take the pill at the same time each day to maintain hormone levels in the body (when you wake up, when you go to bed, when you brush your teeth, etc.). Whether or not you’ll need additional backup birth control can be dependent on whether or not the pill is taken late or missed completely, which week in the pill pack it happens, and the type of pill that it is.

However, life happens and you could miss a pill, so based on typical use, it's still 91 percent effective. When taken perfectly, birth control is 99 percent effective. Taking the pill might be confusing at times, but when used correctly and consistently, it's extremely effective in preventing pregnancy. This is especially critical with the birth control pill, although the accuracy with which you must take the pill depends on what kind of pill you're taking. It’s great that you’re taking an active role in your health (and paying attention in class!) by reading about your medications and making sure you follow the instructions as closely as possible.
