Taking the Pill
- Because there are many different Pills with different amounts of hormones, it is important to consult your doctor and read all the material you are given for the Pill.
- The 28 day Pill has 21 hormone pills and 7 sugar pills in a 28 day Pill packet. A pill is taken every day.
- The 21 day Pill has 21 hormone pills in the packet, and no pills to be taken for 7 days before starting the next packet.
- The pills need to be taken close to the same time every day, beginning within 5 days of starting a period, to get reliable protection.
- If a pill is missed, or there are some health problems which interfere with how effective the pills might be (such as vomiting, diarrhoea, or needing to use some other medicines, eg. some antibiotics), other forms of contraception, such as a condom, should also be used.
- If there have been some problems with taking the Pill, and you have had unprotected sex, it is usually possible to take emergency contraception – such as the emergency contraceptive pill - check our topic Emergency contraceptive pills to learn more. See your doctor or a sexual health clinic as soon as possible.
