What To Do If You Start Birth Control One Day Early
In our latest question and answer, the pharmacist discusses what to do if you accidentally start your birth control pack one day early.
I was supposed to start my new pack of birth control pills (Alesse) on a Saturday at 9 pm but I accidentally took it on Friday at 11:50 pm. What should I do now?
May 21, 2022- Keep taking your pills every day without skipping any days to get back on your old schedule, since missing pills increases pregnancy risk.
- Starting birth control one day early does not increase your pregnancy risk and may just make your period lighter or shorter than usual.
- If you want to switch back to your original start day later, you can skip the placebo pills and begin your next pack on your preferred day without affecting contraceptive protection.
It is important to start off by saying that if you accidentally take your birth control pill one day early, be sure to continue to take your pills on a daily basis and do not "skip" a day to get back on your normal schedule.
In other words, treat this situation as if you simply are starting a new pack of birth control pills one day earlier.
Now, there is no increased risk of pregnancy if you start taking your birth control pills one day early.
Data suggests that you may experience a lighter or shorter period than usual simply because you are deviating from your usual schedule, but there will be no increased risk of pregnancy.
However, if you miss an active pill in your first week, as would happen if you skip a day to get back on your usual schedule, your risk of pregnancy increases.
In fact, birth control manufacturers (including the manufacturer of Alesse), recommend using a backup contraceptive for a full 7 days if you miss a pill in the first week. Additional Information
If your new start day works for you, there is no need to change how you are taking the pills. You will simply be starting new packs one day earlier than you have in the past.
If you wish to go back to your usual start day, you have some options, including skipping the placebo pills when you finish the active pills and starting your new pack on your desired start day.
While this may affect your period, in terms of breakthrough bleeding and spotting for a month or two, it will not affect your protection against pregnancy.
References & sources
- Alesse Prescribing Information — AccessFDA
Glossary — Terms in This Answer
- Active pill
- A birth control pill that contains hormones and provides contraceptive protection.
- Backup contraceptive
- An additional method of birth control used alongside your primary method to reduce pregnancy risk.
- Placebo pills
- Inactive pills in a birth control pack that do not contain hormones and allow your period to occur.
- Breakthrough bleeding
- Unexpected vaginal bleeding that occurs between regular periods while taking birth control.
- Spotting
- Light vaginal bleeding or blood staining that is lighter than a normal period.
Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD
Doctor of Pharmacy, board certified clinical pharmacist (BCPS), American Herbalist Guild, Medication Therapy Management certified
Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS, is a licensed pharmacist with more than 13 years of experience across retail pharmacy, clinical pharmacy, medication safety, pharmacy program development, and healthcare administration. He is the founder of HelloPharmacist.com, where he helps patients...
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