How you take your pill and the rules about missed pills vary depending on which type of OCP (oral contraceptive pill) you are taking. There are two main types:

 

 

Combined Pills

 

Generally, you will be told to take your Pill for 21 days and take a seven-day break during which you will have a bleed. If you take a 28-day pack, you will take a pill for 28 days straight and then start on your next pack without taking a break. You tend to get a bleed while on the last few days of your pack.

 

New tailored regimes are being used with certain 21-day pills. These are to be used only under medical supervision. They include:

 

  • Taking the Pill for 21 days with only a 4 daybreak.
  • Taking the Pill for 9 weeks & then taking a 4 to 7 day break. Here there is only one bleed every 3 months.
  • Continuously taking the Pill without any pill-free days or any bleed.

 

These regimes can be used when withdrawal bleeds are heavy or inconvenient or associated with headaches or mood changes. Running one pack into the other (and not having a bleed) alows you postphone your withdrawl bleed. This can be handy for holidays or exams etc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Progesterone Only Pill

 

Take one Pill every day continuously. There are no breaks required and no breakthrough bleed.

 

 

Missed Doses

 

 

The following chart explains how you deal with missed pills while still ensuring that you have full birth control .*

 Nore

 

 

*Desogestrol POP brand is Cerazette. Norethiserone POP is Noriday

 

 

 

How to start taking the Pill

 

If you start taking your Pill on the first day of your period, you will have immediate protection. 

 

Starting your first pack of the pill at any other time in your cycle will not give 100% protection for the first seven days. Women who have no or highly irregular periods often start mid-cycle. You should use a pregnancy test to confirm that you are not pregnant before starting the Pill if you do not have periods.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ann O’Flynn B.Pharm, MA, BSc, MPSI

 

Ann is the owner of dPharmacy and has a particular interest in Health foods and supplements. Ann is a Tutor pharmacist and has gained numerous qualifications in alternative therapies - which she uses alongside her extensive clinical training. If you have any queries on medicines or health foods please reach out to us by email, text or phone.

 

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Disclaimer

Please be aware that the information on our site is for information only. While we hope you find it helpful, it is not our intention for our articles to be used as a basis for diagnosis or treatment. If you suspect you may have a health issue or wish to start taking any medicine, please consult your pharmacist, doctor or contact us directly. You can get in touch with us by phone, email, online chat or text. We would be delighted to run through any concerns you may have.  Our goal is to deliver health directly to you - pleasantly and effectively. However, dPharmacy will not accept responsibility for any side effects or health damages from the use of medicines offered on this site.