--- title: "Missed or late pills" description: "Find the right help after a missed pill, and why your pill type, place in the pack, vomiting and diarrhoea all matter. Includes when to get help." url: "https://myruva.co/learn/missed-pills-and-what-to-do" language: "en-GB" topic: "Contraception" published: "2026-10-18" updated: "2026-10-19" author: "Ruva team" reading_minutes: 4 --- # Missed or late pills Find the right help after a missed pill, and why your pill type, place in the pack, vomiting and diarrhoea all matter. Includes when to get help. *Written and reviewed by the Ruva team · Updated 2026-10-19 · Contraception* ## Key points - What to do after a missed pill depends on your pill and what happened. - Check the leaflet for your exact product and talk to a pharmacist. - You may need emergency contraception, and your usual pill can affect which type suits you. - Vomiting or diarrhoea can also mean you need advice for your specific pill. What to do after a late or missed pill depends on which pill you take. Find the packet and its leaflet. If you’re not sure what to do, talk to a pharmacist. You may need emergency contraception, so ask soon if you’ve had sex that might not have been covered. ## Start with the exact product For a combined pill, the NHS says the advice depends on the type of pill and how many you missed. It also depends on where you are in the pack, including the day and week. For a progestogen-only pill, the type and how much time has passed matter. The pharmacist needs the exact name of your pill to give you reliable advice. Keep the packet with you when you call or visit the pharmacist. Give the brand name, the time you last took a pill and what has happened since. If you’re not sure of a time, say so. Jot down a short timeline of what happened so you can talk it through. Some combined-pill packs contain dummy (inactive) tablets as well as active tablets with hormones. The NHS says the dummy ones are a different colour. Keep the strip with you so the pharmacist can see which tablet you missed. The colour alone can’t tell you what to do without the product name. ## Why advice from another country can differ UK NHS information covers traditional progestogen-only pills, desogestrel and drospirenone. US CDC guidance covers norethindrone, norgestrel and drospirenone. So a missed-pill rule copied from another product or country may be wrong for your pack. In the UK, use the leaflet that came with your medicine and the NHS page for your type of pill. In the US and elsewhere, ask your pharmacist or prescriber about the instructions for your product. If you’ve lost the pack or leaflet, tell the pharmacist the name you have rather than guessing the type. ## Asking about emergency contraception The right emergency option depends on more than the missed pill. Both combined and progestogen-only pills can change how well some emergency contraception works. Tell the pharmacist or sexual health service which pill you usually take and when you last took it, including any missed tablets. If you’ve missed pills and had sex that might not have been covered, contact someone today. In the UK, that’s a pharmacist, sexual health clinic or GP. In the US and elsewhere, it’s a pharmacist or clinician. Emergency contraception works better the sooner you use it. Give the dates you had sex as well as the dates of missed pills. Ask what to do about your usual pill and whether you need extra contraception. Check what follow-up they suggest too. Follow the leaflet or the advice for your own prescription. Don’t use this article to change when you take your medicine. ## Vomiting and diarrhoea matter too Being ill can stop the pill working properly, even if you took it. Vomiting soon after a progestogen-only pill, or severe watery diarrhoea, can mean it doesn’t work as it should. The NHS advises checking your exact pill type, the timing and the leaflet, or talking to a pharmacist. The NHS has separate advice for vomiting or diarrhoea while taking a combined pill. It differs for some brands, and you may need extra precautions if you’re ill near the pill-free break. Tell the pharmacist when you took the pill, when the illness started, whether it’s still going on and where you are in the pack. ## If missed pills keep happening If you’d like to talk about another method, book with a GP or sexual health clinic in the UK, or your healthcare provider in the US and elsewhere. CDC recommends looking at other options with people who often miss progestin-only pills. Explain what makes the pill hard to use and what you’d prefer. You can ask for the plan to be written down. Before the conversation ends, repeat back what you think you need to do next. Ask who to contact if you’re still unsure. Keep the plan with the leaflet for your pack. ## When to get help - **Same day:** Contact a pharmacist, sexual health clinic or GP today (UK), or a pharmacist or clinician (US and elsewhere), if you have missed pills and had sex that might not have been covered by contraception. - **Book an appointment:** Book with your GP or sexual health clinic (UK), or your healthcare provider (US and elsewhere), if you keep missing pills and want to talk about another method. ## Where you live Services and advice differ between countries. - **UK:** NHS missed-pill pages point you to your pill leaflet or a pharmacist. A sexual health clinic or GP can advise about emergency contraception. - **US:** CDC guidance has separate advice for norethindrone, norgestrel and drospirenone progestin-only pills. Use the US instructions for the product you actually take. - **Elsewhere:** Elsewhere, take your exact pill name and the leaflet from your pack to a pharmacist or clinician. The instructions depend on what the pill contains. ## Sources 1. [What to do if you miss a combined pill or take an extra one](https://www.nhs.uk/contraception/methods-of-contraception/combined-pill/missed-or-extra-pill/), NHS 2. [What to do if you miss a progestogen-only pill or take an extra one](https://www.nhs.uk/contraception/methods-of-contraception/progestogen-only-pill/missed-or-extra-pill/), NHS 3. [What to do if you’re sick or have diarrhoea when taking the combined pill](https://www.nhs.uk/contraception/methods-of-contraception/combined-pill/sickness-or-diarrhoea/), NHS 4. [What to do if you’re sick or have diarrhoea when taking the progestogen-only pill](https://www.nhs.uk/contraception/methods-of-contraception/progestogen-only-pill/sickness-or-diarrhoea/), NHS 5. [Progestin-Only Pills](https://www.cdc.gov/contraception/hcp/usspr/progestin-only-pills.html), CDC 6. [Emergency contraception](https://www.nhs.uk/contraception/emergency-contraception/), NHS 7. [How to take the combined pill](https://www.nhs.uk/contraception/methods-of-contraception/combined-pill/how-to-take-it/), NHS --- This guide is general information to help you keep and use your own records. It isn’t medical advice. If you’re worried about a symptom, or something changes suddenly, talk to a doctor, nurse or pharmacist.