What is the risk of pregnancy if a dose of the progesterone-only pill (POP) is taken late, and what is the recommended timing for the next dose after taking it at 9:40pm, given unprotected sex occurred 2 days prior?

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From the Guidelines

You should take the missed progesterone-only pill as soon as possible and continue taking your next pill at your regular 6 pm time tomorrow. Since you forgot to take your pill and it's been more than 3 hours past the recommended dose, you're at a slightly increased risk of pregnancy, especially if you've had unprotected sex in the last 48 hours 1. However, in your case, you had sex 2 days ago, which reduces the risk. To minimize the risk of pregnancy, it's essential to take the missed pill as soon as possible and continue with your regular schedule. According to the guidelines, if you miss a progesterone-only pill and it's been more than 3 hours past the recommended dose, you should take one pill as soon as possible and continue taking the remaining pills at the usual time each day, which may require taking two pills on the same day 1. Additionally, you should use backup contraception, such as condoms, for the next 2 consecutive days to ensure maximum protection against pregnancy 1. It's also important to note that if you've had recent unprotected intercourse, you may want to consider emergency contraception 1. To maintain the effectiveness of the progesterone-only pill, it's crucial to take it at the same time every day, and setting a daily alarm can help you stay on track.

Some key points to consider:

  • Take the missed pill as soon as possible
  • Continue taking the remaining pills at the usual time each day
  • Use backup contraception for the next 2 consecutive days
  • Consider emergency contraception if you've had recent unprotected intercourse
  • Take the next pill at your regular 6 pm time tomorrow to maintain the schedule.

From the FDA Drug Label

The FDA drug label does not answer the question.

From the Research

Progesterone Only Pill (POP) and Missed Dose

  • If you take the progesterone only pill at 6pm every day and forget to take it one day, realizing it's 9:40pm, you should take the missed pill as soon as possible 2.
  • Since you had sex 2 days ago, you are at risk of pregnancy, but taking the missed pill at 9:40pm may still provide some protection 3, 2.

Timing of Next Dose

  • After taking the missed pill at 9:40pm, you should take the next pill at the usual time, which is 6pm the next day, to maintain the regular schedule 2, 4.
  • It's essential to take the progesterone only pill at the same time every day to ensure its effectiveness in preventing pregnancy 2, 5.

Risk of Pregnancy

  • The risk of pregnancy after missing a dose of the progesterone only pill depends on various factors, including the timing of the missed dose and the timing of unprotected sex 3, 2.
  • If you have had unprotected sex within the last 72 hours, you may need to consider emergency contraception, such as ulipristal acetate or levonorgestrel, to prevent pregnancy 3, 6.

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Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

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