if you miss 2 birth control pills during week 2 and have sex on those days can you get pregnant?

You started your period since you wrote your first question yesterday... that is great!

Since your pills come in the mail, how early are you able to order a new pack? Can your GYN write a prescription for one extra "backup" pack of pills, so you always have an extra one if needed?

If you know you miss 2 or 3 days each month of pills, it is important that you find a solution. Starting out missing pills each month does not make the pill effective for that week, and is the worst time to miss pills, as you have already been hormone-free from the "inactive pills" the previous week (during your "period"). Solutions can either be to find another method of ordering your pills, ask your doctor for a prescription for a back-up pack ("extra"), order the pills earlier in the month, or talk to the company/pharmacist about their recommendations. Your doctor and Pharmacist do not want you to increase your chances of pregnancy because of a mail delay!!!

If you miss 3 pills, you usually need to throw away the pack of pills, wait until you begin bleeding (your "period"), then start a new pack. If you miss 1 or 2 pills, you can "double-up" on the following days.

If you are planning, in advance, to miss pills, then I would highly recommend that you find an alternative form of birth control. The pill ONLY works when it is taken consistently and correctly every single day (during "active pills").

If none of these are an option, it is important that you continue to use condoms for 7-14 days after you have missed pills to decrease your chances of pregnancy. You may choose to use condoms every time you have sex, as it could be confusing to try to remember in the "heat of the moment" if you missed pills recently or not. Missing pills highly increases your chances of pregnancy, and if you do not want to be pregnant at this time in your life, please find a reliable form of birth control...I'm concerned about you!

Please let us know what you decide to do!

Hi Hannah,
Anytime you miss several pills in-a-row and do not use back-up protection (condom), there is a chance for pregnancy. The exact percentage is unknown, as every woman's body and each cycle is different.

When you use hormonal birth control, you actually do not ovulate. The pill works by preventing ovulation, and also in other ways (changing the cervical lining, so if an egg were released, the fertilized egg would have difficulty implanting). The pill is 99% effective at preventing pregnancy, but when 2 are missed in-a-row, this effectiveness rate decreases, and your body could ovulate in that time.

That is great that you took the missed pills as directed, and then it is important to use back-up protection for the next 7 days after the missed pills.

The spotting is normal, as your body is reacting to the abrupt stopping of hormonal contraception, then a sudden surge in hormones from the double-dose. This is not harmful, just your body will react by spotting slightly. It can cause a slightly irregular cycle, or breakthrough bleeding.

The symptoms you are having could be anything, and you will unfortunately need to wait until your next "period" before knowing if you are pregnant or not. I'm sorry, I wish I could tell you something different, but that is your only option to wait for a period or take a home pregnancy test once your period has not started.

Please let us know when your period starts! (Don't be alarmed if it is late, it does not indicate a pregnancy necessarily..it can be slightly irregular for the inconsistent use of your pills this cycle).

Hi Brenda

The pill was too much of a hassle? Does that mean you had unprotected sex afterward? If your period was the beginning of June, since it is still only early July you aren't really late yet. I would wait a couple of weeks before taking a pregnancy test.

Good luck.