What should a woman be advised to do if she misses three combined oral contraceptive pills (OCP) in a row?
If three pills are missed in a row, she should throw out the remainder of the pack and start a new pack immediately. She also requires a back-up method of contraception (condoms) for seven days after missing three pills. She may not have a period that month. All clinicians should offer women written instructions about what to do if they miss pills in as simplified a format as possible. Some companies provide tear-off sheets explaining this information in a clear and concise fashion. This information should be made available at the time of the woman’s first prescription. Counselling about emergency contraception and a prescription for emergency contraception are recommended when any contraceptive method is initiated.
