If you miss your YAZ birth control pill
If you miss a YAZ® (drospirenone & ethinyl estradiol) pill, don't panic. Review the information below to determine what to do next. Contact your healthcare provider if you have any questions.
Missed 1 pill
If you miss one (1) active pill (pink):
- Take it as soon as you remember. Take the next pill at your regular time
- This means you may take 2 pills in 1 day
- You do not need to use a backup birth control method if you have sex
Missed 2 pills
If you miss two (2) active pills (pink) in a row in Week 1 or Week 2 of your pack:
- Take two (2) pills on the day you remember and two (2) pills the next day
- Then take one (1) pill a day until you finish the pack
- You MAY BECOME PREGNANT if you have sex in the 7 days after you restart your pills
- You MUST use another birth control method (such as condoms or spermicides) as a backup for those 7 days
If you miss two (2) active pills (pink) in a row in Week 3 or Week 4 of your pack:
- If you are a Day 1 Starter: THROW OUT the rest of the pill pack and start a new pack that same day
- If you are a Sunday Starter: Keep taking one pill every day until Sunday. On Sunday, THROW OUT the rest of the pack and start a new pack of pills that same day
- You MAY BECOME PREGNANT if you have sex in the 7 days after you restart your pills. You MUST use another birth control method (such as condoms or spermicides) as a backup for those 7 days
- You may not have your period this month, but this is expected. However, if you miss your period two months in a row, call your healthcare provider or clinic because you might be pregnant
Miss 3 pills or more
If you miss three (3) or more active pills (pink) in a row during any week:
- If you are a Day 1 Starter: THROW OUT the rest of the pill pack and start a new pack that same day
- If you are a Sunday Starter: Keep taking 1 pill every day until Sunday. On Sunday, THROW OUT the rest of the pack and start a new pack of pills that same day
- You MAY BECOME PREGNANT if you have sex in the seven days after you restart your pills. You MUST use another birth control method (such as condoms or spermicides) as a backup for those 7 days
- You may not have your period this month, but this is expected. However, if you miss your period two months in a row, call your healthcare provider or clinic because you might be pregnant
If you miss any of the 4 reminder pills (white) in Week 4:
- THROW AWAY the pills you missed
- Keep taking one pill each day until the pack is empty
- You do not need a backup method of birth control
If you are not sure if you've taken your pills properly or still are not sure what to do about the pills you have missed
- Use a backup method (e.g., condoms or spermicides) any time you have sex
- Keep taking one active pink pill each day until you can reach your healthcare provider or clinic
Reminders to:
- Take YAZ daily
- Get your prescription refilled
- Make healthcare provider appointments