Femodette

I Have Missed a Pill – What Should I Do?

If you are less than 12 hours late taking a pill, take it as soon as you remember and continue taking the remaining pills at your usual time. This may mean taking two pills in one day. Your contraceptive protection should not be reduced.

If you are more than 12 hours late, or if you have missed more than one pill, your contraceptive protection may be reduced.

Take the most recently missed pill immediately, even if it means taking two pills at once. Leave any earlier missed pills in the pack. Continue taking one pill daily at your usual time for the next seven days. If you reach the end of a strip during this period, start the next strip immediately without taking the usual seven-day break. You may not have a bleed until after finishing the second strip, but this is normal. If no bleed occurs, do a pregnancy test before starting another strip.

Use additional contraception, such as condoms, for seven days after missing a pill.

If you missed one or more pills during the first week of your strip and had sex, you could be at risk of pregnancy. Contact your doctor, family planning nurse, or pharmacist for advice as soon as possible. Emergency contraception may be recommended.

What to Do If You Miss a Femodette Pill

If you miss a Femodette pill, you have two options:

1. Take the last pill of your current strip: Take the last pill in place of the missed one, then continue taking all remaining pills on their scheduled days. Your cycle will be one day shorter than usual, but your contraceptive protection will not be affected. After completing your seven pill-free days, your new cycle will start one day earlier than before.

2. Keep your original cycle start day: If you prefer not to change your cycle, take a pill from a spare strip (if you have one), then continue taking the remaining pills from your current strip as usual. Keep the opened spare strip in case you miss any further pills.

I Am Sick or Have Diarrhoea – What Should I Do?

If you are sick or experience severe diarrhoea within 4 hours of taking your Femodette pill, your body may not absorb the full dose of hormones from that pill. In this case, your contraceptive protection could be reduced. You should follow the missed pill instructions and continue taking your remaining pills as usual. Consider using an additional method of contraception, such as condoms, until your protection is restored.

I Missed a Period – Could I Be Pregnant?

Occasionally, you may miss a withdrawal bleed. This does not usually mean you are pregnant, especially if you have taken your Femodette pills correctly. You should start your next strip at the usual time.

If you believe you may have been at risk of pregnancy, or if you miss a second withdrawal bleed, you should take a pregnancy test. These are available from your local pharmacy, or you can obtain a free test at a family planning clinic or your GP surgery.

I Have Taken More Than One Pill – Could It Cause Harm?

It is unlikely that taking more than one Femodette pill will cause serious harm. However, you may experience side effects such as feeling unwell, vomiting, or unexpected vaginal bleeding. If you notice any of these symptoms or are concerned, contact your GP or healthcare provider for advice.