If you forget to take Cycle 21, the contraceptive effect of the pill may be reduced, especially when more than one pill is forgotten, or when the delay in taking the medication exceeds 12 hours, with the risk of becoming pregnant.
Therefore, it is important to use another contraceptive method within 7 days of forgetting, such as a condom, to prevent pregnancy from occurring.
An alternative for those who frequently forget to take the pill is to switch to another method where it is not necessary to remember to use it daily. Find out how to choose the best contraceptive method.
Forgetting up to 12 hours
In any week, if the delay is up to 12 hours from the usual time, the forgotten pill should be taken as soon as the person remembers and the next pills should be taken at the usual time.
In these cases, the contraceptive effect of the pill is maintained and there is no risk of becoming pregnant.
Forgetfulness for more than 12 hours
If you forget more than 12 hours of the usual time, Cycle 21 contraceptive protection may be reduced and, therefore, you should:
- Take the forgotten pill as soon as you remember, even if you have to take two pills on the same day;
- Take the following tablets at the usual time;
- Use another contraceptive method such as a condom for the next 7 days;
- Start a new pack as soon as you finish the current one, without taking a break between one pack and another, only if you forget about it in the third week of the pack.
When there is no break between one pack and another, menstruation should only occur at the end of the second pack, but minor bleeding may occur on the days when the pills are taken. If menstruation does not occur at the end of the second pack, a pregnancy test must be taken before starting the next pack.
Missing more than 1 pill
If more than one pill from the same pack is missed, a doctor should be consulted because the more tablets in a row are missed, the lower the contraceptive effect of Cycle 21 will be.
In these cases, if menstruation does not occur within 7 days between one pack and another, you should consult your doctor before starting a new pack because the woman may be pregnant.
