How important is it to take your birth control pill at the same time every day?

[chicago07]

for those of you who are on birth control or have been on birth control is it crucial that you take it at the exact same time every day? is it ok if you take it around the same hour each day? like say I'm suppose to take my pill at 5pm each day and I sometimes take it 20 mins after and I forgot one day and took it 45 minutes past the hour. is this gonna make it less effective or anything?

[paigems]

I don't take birth control to prevent pregnancy, but I've been on quite a few different kinds. I always take mine in the morning, because I always get up at the same time. It doesn't really matter if the time you take it varies slightly (like within the hour). Skipping a pill, however, can cause the effectiveness of the birth control go down quite a bit for around three days. Also, if you're ever on an antibiotic, your birth control will not be very effective, so stay away from sex if you ever have to take one. A lot of people don't know that, and get pregnant, and then blame the birth control.

[chicago07]

Thanks this helps out a bunch!!

[paigems]

No problem :)

[Aarien]

It's important to take your pill around the same time every day, so you always have the right amount of hormones in your system. Taking it a little late every once in a while won't make it less effective. However, if you take it at different times every day or often forget to take it, that can make it less effective and will lower your protection. I used to have trouble remembering to take my pills, so I set an alarm on my cell phone to go off very day at "pill time" to help me remember. Haven't had a problem since. :)

[chicago07]

Lol that's what I do too...except sometimes I don't have my cell phone on me so that's how I end up forgetting about it

[Aarien]

Oh, it had the opposite effect on me. I'm so used to having the alarm go off that I always seem to be hyper aware of when it's time to take my pill -- with or without my phone on me. Conditioning, much? lol.

[scnbabe89]

very very important if you don't then its going to mess with your body and you could get pregnant that way.

[WaitingAtTheDoor]

It depends on which one you're taking. I know there is a pill out there that has to be taken at the exact same time every time.

But I've heard of one that is not as restrictive. You should be asking the Doctor that prescribed the pill.

[mytommygundont]

He's right....usually the progestin-only pills need to be taken at the exact same time. it becomes less and less effective with each hour that goes by that you don't take it. but the combined pills are a little more lax in that area...but its in your best interest to try to take it at the same time, no matter which pill you are on.

[xcheerleaderxax]

wow no it doesn't matter trust me it won't matter just make sure if ur suppose to take it and ur about to have sex then take it b.c its not good to do.