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Chances of pregnancy after missing dose of birth control pill.

Resolved Question:

Hello,
So my girlfriend is on birth control and she missed one pill at 10:45 p.m. the morning after we had sex and I pulled out and then ejaculated. she then took her pill that she missed but then as an added precaution, we went and purchased the Take Action pill. She took that in hopes to not get her pregnant. So while she's been taking her birth control regularly and on time, since then, she is a day late for her period and scared that she might be pregnant.

Through research we have done, the side effects of taking the Take Action emergency contraceptive, are that her period may be heavier or lighter or come earlier or later then expected, but I guess what we are wondering about is a couple things:

-What are the chances of her being pregnant?
-Could her period come late while she is on her birth control?
-What do we do if she misses her period during this cycle of pills?

Your help is greatly appreciated,
Thanks
-Spencer

Category: OBGYN

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Dr. Aarti Vazirani
Category: Infertility Specialist
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 23 Doctors Online

Expert:  Dr. Aarti Vazirani
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Hello,
Thanks for posting your query at DoctorSpring.com
Let me address your queries stepwise -
1. Chances of her being pregnant are quite low. If one pill is missed, and then taken the next day, she still has full protection that oral contraceptives confer, that is more than 99 %. There was actually no need to take emergency contraception in addition to regular contraception, it offers no added benefit, and just adds to the side effects, the main one being unpredictable and irregular periods. What cycle day was she on by the way when this happened ?
2. Yes, her period could be unpredictable, because the emergency contraception was superimposed on the regular birth control, making the hormones erratic.
3. If she misses her period during this cycle of pills, then take a pregnancy test first of all. If it is negative, continue with the next pill pack irrespective of the missed period. You should anticipate a period that deviates from normal in terms of timing and flow pattern, but it would smoothen out over the next month. Just continue taking the pills , trying not to miss any more , and the erratic bleeding and spotting, if it should happen , will regulate itself.
Just remember, you DO NOT need emergency contraception, while on the pill, as long as more than 2 pills are not skipped.
All the best.
Please feel free to discuss further.
Regards.

Dr. Aarti Vazirani
Category: Infertility Specialist
Experience: 
Residency: Obstetrics & Gynecolog, BJMC,Civil hospital, Ahmedabad, 2008
Post Graduate: MS (Obstetrics & Gynecology), B.J. Medical College, Ahmedabad, 2008
Medical School: MBBS, B.J. Medical College, Ahmedabad, 2004
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