Microgynon 30 and Missed Pills: What to Do & Potential Effects

Question
Hi

I have been taking Microgynon 30 for about 6 months.

In last months pill pack I missed 3 pills, I wasn't sure what to do so I stopped taking them. A few days after this I had sex and the condom split, so the next day I took the morning after pill (Levonelle one step) and was expecting my period to arrive shortly after this.

I started taking my pill again on the day that my period should have started (if I had continued taking the last pack of pills) on the advice of the pharmacist who gave me the morning after pill.

I have now finished that pack of pills, and am halfway through my 'pill free week' but still have not had my period.

I took a pregnancy test a week after the morning after pill, which was negative, and haven't had any other pregnancy symptoms (although I do not get any PMS symptoms normally, and when I was pregnant before I didn't have any symptoms at all until a positive test at 8 weeks pregnant).

I am quite concerned that I have not had a period yet... why do you think this could be? Should I see my doctor? (I don't normally like to bother the doctor unless I have a serious problem)

Thanks for any advice you can give
Sophie

Answer
Hi Sophie,

Sometimes women on the pill for a while don't get their period, but in your situation I wonder if you might be pregnant.  It takes 2 weeks after conception for a test to be positive, so I think the test you did a week after the morning after pill was too early.  I would do another one now.  If it's negative, I would just keep taking the pill.  If your period doesn't come next month, you could think about switching to a different pill.

I think you were wise to use a condom when you missed 3 pills, and were wise to use the morning after pill, so I don't think pregnancy is likely, but it is possible.  The pill works really well if no pills are missed, but works less well for each pill missed.  Best wishes.