Help with contraceptive pill

[carrottopper]

I should have taken my last pill (after 21 days ready for my 7 day break) on Tuesday. I’ve just realised I have been mixing up with a second packet and taken a pill Wednesday and Thursday. I haven’t taken tonight’s. When am I covered from? Do I start taking my pill on Wednesday as I was supposed to? Or do I start taking it 7 days from now?

Hi carrot You can take a break now of between 4 and 7 days (during which you should have a withdrawal bleed) then resume pill taking. Or you can just omit the break for now and keep going until you’re ready to have a break/bleed. Each pill is identical so it doesn’t matter when you have your break, you can choose when it’s convenient. Google “tailored regimes on combined pill” if you want to find out more about working out your own pattern. Or feel free to PM me (I work in sexual health).

Yep you don’t actually need a break if you don’t want one, carry on as long as you want.

Thank you for your replies. So if I have a break now, last pill was Thursday night, can I start a new pack on Wednesday as I always have done for years? Also when will I be covered from?

Hi again carrot. Yes if you prefer to keep your start date of a Wednesday that’s fine, your pill-free interval will just be 5 days instead of 7 this month (anything between 4-7 days is fine). If you were taking the pill continuously every day with no missed pills before starting the break, you will maintain your contraceptive cover all through the break and into the next pack. Your cover is only interrupted if the pill free interval is extended for longer than 7 days.

Thanks so much for your help