Family Planning Plus

Yes, she should start her new pill pack at the same time. Whenever you forget to take a pill, you should take it as soon as you remember and then take the next pill at the regular time. If you’re about to take a pill and realize that you missed yesterday’s pill, then take both pills at the same time. If you miss two or more pills in a row, take two pills a day until you are caught up and then resume the one pill daily schedule.

If you miss a pill by more than 24 hours, you should use condoms in addition to the pill for the next 7-14 days. Missing pills or taking them late increases the risk of pregnancy and can affect bleeding patterns. That is why her period did not start at the regular time.

If your daughter regularly forgets to take pills, she may want to think about switching to a method that does not require daily use. If she wants to remain on the pill, she needs to take them around the same time every day. If she has a cell phone, she could set her alarm to go off every day at the same time to remind her to take a pill. If she brushes her teeth around the same time everyday, she could keep the pills next to her toothbrush. She can also sign up for daily text reminders on www.bedsider.com.