What Happens If You Take Two Birth Control Pills in One Day?

When planning your contraception,

it's inevitable that you might occasionally face a situation where you miss a daily birth control pill. If you’ve ever found yourself doubling up to make up for a missed dose, here’s what you need to know.

Misconceptions and Realities

It's understandable to feel the urge to double up if you've forgotten to take your birth control pill. However, it's important to understand the risks and implications of such a decision.

Risks and Recommendations

Taking two birth control pills in one day is not recommended and can reduce the effectiveness of the pill. If you have missed a dose, the best course of action is to take a single pill at your next scheduled time and use an additional form of contraception, such as condoms, for the next seven days.

Other contraceptive methods to consider include:

Implants: virtually impossible to mess up, providing protection for up to five years, or until you want to have a baby and get it removed. Vasectomy: a quick, reversible procedure covered by most insurance plans, potentially requiring a few hundred dollars. The healthcare provider may even administer anesthesia to ensure the patient is comfortable.

Explanation of Procedures

Implants can be the most convenient option, as they are almost unnoticeable and require no daily effort to maintain. They are surgically placed under the skin of the upper arm and closely monitor by a healthcare professional.

A vasectomy, on the other hand, is an effective and relatively inexpensive method, with a minor cost outlay (approximately $200 to $500). This procedure involves blocking the vas deferens, the tubes that transport sperm, to render a man sterile. It is a straightforward procedure that can be performed under local or general anesthesia, ensuring the patient is comfortable.

What Happens When You Double Up?

Consuming two birth control pills together is not necessarily dangerous, but it does mean that you are short one pill in your three-week cycle of active pills. This leaves you with a few options:

Skip the placebos: Start your next pack immediately without skipping a pill. Placebo use: Take one inactive placebo pill in place of your missing pill and then start your next pack as scheduled.

In either scenario, it is not advisable to take a full week of placebos if you aren’t at least 21 active pills into your current cycle. This means any unintended delays in your pill-taking routine can potentially impact your contraceptive effectiveness.

Conclusion

Regardless of whether you double up on your birth control pills, the protection you receive does not necessarily change. No, you’re not at risk of an overdose; it's just that your pack may become a few days off schedule, and you might finish a day early.

When you find yourself in such a situation, consider consulting a healthcare professional who can provide personalized advice and recommend the best course of action. They can also help you explore alternative contraceptive methods if you're not satisfied with your current option.