If the pill is more than 12 hours late

Intercourse will not be protected for the next seven days so either avoid sex or use another method, such as the condom.

If the pill is more than 12 hours late and there are more than 7 active pills in your pack:

• continue as normal, then start the next pack as normal after the usual interval between packs.

If the pill is more than 12 hours late and there are less than 7 active pills in the pack, and the patient is on the every day pill:

• continue to use the current pack until all active pills have been consumed. Then abandon the present pack with it's remaining placebos and start a new pack straight away on the active pills. Then continue as normal.

If the pill is more than 12 hours late and there are less than 7 active pills in the pack and the patient is not on the everyday pill:

• start the next pack as soon as the present pack is finished i.e. do not have a seven day gap between packs. Then continue as normal.

If the last two are appropriate the patient may not have a period until 2 packs but this will not be harmful. Nor does it matter if there is some minor bleeding on pill taking days.