{"id":32918,"date":"2024-10-25T12:17:22","date_gmt":"2024-10-25T16:17:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.getmaple.ca\/?p=32918"},"modified":"2026-01-12T11:01:42","modified_gmt":"2026-01-12T16:01:42","slug":"what-happens-if-you-take-two-birth-control-pills-in-a-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.getmaple.ca\/blog\/what-happens-if-you-take-two-birth-control-pills-in-a-day\/","title":{"rendered":"What Happens if You Take Two Birth Control Pills in a Day?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Taking your birth control at the same time each day can become a habit that\u2019s easy to manage. But life can be unpredictable, and disruptions can happen \u2014 maybe you get an unexpected call from a family member, or you lose track of time getting work done. <\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>After an interruption, you return to your routine but can\u2019t quite remember if you already took your pill, so you take another. Later, it becomes clear after you spend some time thinking about it: you\u2019ve taken two doses.<\/span><\/p>\n

What should you do in this situation? Will there be any side effects? Should you contact your healthcare provider? In this blog, we\u2019ll cover what you need to know.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Understanding birth control pills and how they work<\/b><\/h4>\n

The <\/span>birth control pill<\/span><\/a> (also called \u201cthe pill\u201d) is a form of hormonal contraception that provides round-the-clock protection. When taken daily, it prevents pregnancy by thickening the cervical mucus to make it hard for the sperm to reach the egg and halting ovulation so eggs aren\u2019t released and therefore can\u2019t be fertilized.<\/span><\/p>\n

The pill is most effective \u2014 91 to 99% \u2014 when taken at the same time every day, without skipping days. It\u2019s recommended that you team it with alternative forms of non-hormonal birth control devices, like condoms, for further protection and to protect against STIs.<\/span><\/p>\n

Potential side effects of taking a double dose<\/b><\/h4>\n

It\u2019s not uncommon for people to accidentally take an extra birth control pill. Life gets busy, and we get distracted! <\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>You don\u2019t need to be concerned or call your doctor \u2014 you most likely won\u2019t experience any side effects. But if you <\/span>experience pain<\/span><\/a>, nausea, or vaginal bleeding that lasts a few days or any severe symptoms, contact your primary care practitioner.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you intentionally took more than one pill<\/b><\/h4>\n

If you took more than one birth control pill \u2014 perhaps thinking it could act as a substitute for emergency contraception or could end a pregnancy \u2014 you likely won\u2019t experience any long-term harm. But birth control pills are not a substitute for emergency contraception, nor can they be used to end a pregnancy. If you\u2019re concerned about a pregnancy, it\u2019s best to speak to your primary care provider.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Birth control pills have a <\/span>low toxicity<\/span><\/a>, so they won\u2019t make you severely ill. However, people can have allergic reactions \u2014 call 911 if you experience difficulty breathing, tightness in the throat, facial swelling, hives, or loss of consciousness.<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

If you need more information on emergency contraception or ways to end a pregnancy, contact a primary care provider or your local health centre. If you\u2019re among the 6.5 million Canadians who don\u2019t have a primary care provider, consider speaking to a <\/span>Canadian-licensed doctor or nurse practitioner on Maple.<\/span><\/a> Over secure text, video, or audio call, they can treat you or direct you to the right specialty. Primary care providers on Maple are available for you 24\/7\/365 and in minutes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What to do the next day<\/b><\/h4>\n

You accidentally took two pills yesterday: Now what? Should you skip today\u2019s dose to get back on track? No \u2014 it\u2019s important to <\/span>important to continue<\/span><\/a> taking the pill every day, at the same time so it\u2019s most effective. You\u2019ll finish the pack a day earlier, but that\u2019s fine \u2014 you\u2019ll just move onto a new pack one day earlier.<\/span><\/p>\n

Impact on contraceptive effectiveness<\/b><\/h4>\n

Taking two birth control pills in one day will not <\/span>make them less effective<\/span><\/a>. But one factor that can have a big impact on the effectiveness of birth control is <\/span>the time you take it<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you have progesterone-only birth control pills, you must take them at the same time each day, or at least within a 3-hour window for them to be effective. If you\u2019re taking a combination pill (the more common type of birth control pill), which contains both progesterone and estrogen, you only need to worry about taking the pill each day \u2014 you\u2019ll be protected no matter what time you take it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Consulting a healthcare provider<\/b><\/h4>\n

If you accidentally took two birth control pills in one day, you don\u2019t need to consult a healthcare provider. As mentioned, you\u2019ll likely experience no symptoms.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, if you took more than one birth control pill intentionally, whether in an attempt to end a pregnancy or emergency contraception, consider contacting a sexual health clinic to learn about effective options for you.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you experience <\/span>rare symptoms<\/span><\/a> after ingesting the pills, such as pain, vomiting, bleeding, or symptoms of an allergic reaction such as; difficulty breathing, tightness in the throat, facial swelling, hives, or loss of consciousness, seek emergency care.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you have mild symptoms that are lingering, seek medical care via a family doctor or walk-in clinic. You could also reach out to your local health centre, or try telemedicine. Maple has a range of doctors \u2014 from <\/span>primary care providers<\/span><\/a> to <\/span>mental health therapists<\/a>\u00a0\u2014 who can offer you the support and care you need, whether you\u2019d like a new birth control prescription or need help soothing anxious thoughts.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tips for staying organized with pill consumption<\/b><\/h4>\n

While taking two birth control pills in one day likely won\u2019t cause any symptoms, you\u2019ll probably want to make sure it doesn\u2019t happen again (why waste pills?). Here are a few <\/span>helpful tips<\/span><\/a> that can help you not only remember to take your pill every day but also not accidentally double-up:<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n