# Girlfriend missed a pill, now her period is here 1.5 weeks early. How to proceed? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 6, 2014, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girlfriend-missed-a-pill-now-her-period-is-here-1-5-weeks-early-how-to-proceed/678054 "2014-01-06T19:46:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2014, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girlfriend-missed-a-pill-now-her-period-is-here-1-5-weeks-early-how-to-proceed/678054/21 "2014-01-07T05:03:53Z")
This is breakthrough bleeding, not likely a full-on period. Unless she stacks her pills to only have a period every 3 months. Then it could be a period. > [@TheChileanBlob](#): > > If it were me, I’d just take two the next day and then continue on, spotting or not This is what my pill packet always said to do. But it may depend on what kind of pills she’s taking. The packet will have \*\*very \*\*specific instructions on how to handle a missed pill, or 2 missed pills, or 3+ missed pills. Follow the instructions even if she gets breakthrough bleeding. You can have her take a pregnancy test once a week for a month or so to ease your mind. It’s never a bad idea to use a second form of contraception (like condoms or a diaphragm), so do that if it sets your mind at ease. But for just one missed pill, I do not believe that would be necessary. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2014, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girlfriend-missed-a-pill-now-her-period-is-here-1-5-weeks-early-how-to-proceed/678054/22 "2014-01-07T05:46:07Z")
> [@TheChileanBlob](#): > > [Here](http://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-topics/birth-control/if-forget-take-pill-19269.htm) is some info about missed pills. > > If it were me, I’d just take two the next day and then continue on, spotting or not, and use a back-up method for however long (this link says 7 days). This is more consistent with what I was told when I used the pill many years ago; ignore the people who said things like throw the rest of this pack away!!! Basically when you take the placebo pills, you’re letting your hormone levels drop and your body decides to have a period; usually that takes more than one day of placebo (as I recall) but for some a single missed pill might be enough. The only time I ever had bleeding due to a missed pill was when I left them behind on a weekend camping trip and missed 2 days in a row (that month we used backup methods for the rest of the month). ---
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2014, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girlfriend-missed-a-pill-now-her-period-is-here-1-5-weeks-early-how-to-proceed/678054/23 "2014-01-07T13:37:08Z")
Thanks to everyone who offered their know-how. 🙂 Okay, new information: apparently it was a false alarm. It’s gone again. Does this mean we’re good? Or should we still wait/use condoms? ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2014, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girlfriend-missed-a-pill-now-her-period-is-here-1-5-weeks-early-how-to-proceed/678054/24 "2014-01-07T13:53:36Z")
> [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](#): > > Thanks to everyone who offered their know-how. 🙂 Okay, new information: apparently it was a false alarm. It’s gone again. Does this mean we’re good? Or should we still wait/use condoms? What does the company’s website say about one missed pill for this particular brand of pill? Follow that. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2014, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girlfriend-missed-a-pill-now-her-period-is-here-1-5-weeks-early-how-to-proceed/678054/25 "2014-01-07T14:25:18Z")
> [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](#): > > Thanks to everyone who offered their know-how. 🙂 Okay, new information: apparently it was a false alarm. It’s gone again. Does this mean we’re good? Or should we still wait/use condoms? Read the damn pill packet. Google it if she misplaced it. ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2014, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girlfriend-missed-a-pill-now-her-period-is-here-1-5-weeks-early-how-to-proceed/678054/26 "2014-01-07T17:25:43Z")
> [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](#): > > Thanks to everyone who offered their know-how. 🙂 Okay, new information: apparently it was a false alarm. It’s gone again. Does this mean we’re good? Or should we still wait/use condoms? Oh, for heaven’s sake. Did you read _any_ of this thread? ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2014, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girlfriend-missed-a-pill-now-her-period-is-here-1-5-weeks-early-how-to-proceed/678054/27 "2014-01-07T17:32:26Z")
This is why these kids shouldn’t be having sex - they’re apparently too young to read! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2014, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girlfriend-missed-a-pill-now-her-period-is-here-1-5-weeks-early-how-to-proceed/678054/28 "2014-01-07T18:20:38Z")
Hi - ‘pill baby’ here - get a pregnancy test\* - cheap, quick and then you’ll know. - for her ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2014, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girlfriend-missed-a-pill-now-her-period-is-here-1-5-weeks-early-how-to-proceed/678054/29 "2014-01-07T18:58:31Z")
> [@simster](#): > > Hi - ‘pill baby’ here - get a pregnancy test\* - cheap, quick and then you’ll know. > > - for her Not really. The question he’s asking isn’t so much “is she pregnant now” but rather “can we rely on the pill alone as contraception, in this situation?” Besides, more than a week before she’s due for a period? The test would be negative even if she _is_ pregnant. (More than one of my friends has gotten a false negative even testing when their period was a couple days late, and my mother got three negative doctor’s office tests with me.) ---
**Author:** ![Septima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@Septima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Septima)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2014, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girlfriend-missed-a-pill-now-her-period-is-here-1-5-weeks-early-how-to-proceed/678054/30 "2014-01-07T19:07:06Z")
Oh for f’s sake, YES, use condoms for a month. Your dick won’t fall off, I promise. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2014, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girlfriend-missed-a-pill-now-her-period-is-here-1-5-weeks-early-how-to-proceed/678054/31 "2014-01-07T19:13:22Z")
> [@Septima](#): > > Your dick won’t fall off, I promise. And if it does, let us know. We’ll all have more advice to provide. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2014, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girlfriend-missed-a-pill-now-her-period-is-here-1-5-weeks-early-how-to-proceed/678054/32 "2014-01-07T19:15:01Z")
> [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](#): > > Thanks to everyone who offered their know-how. 🙂 Okay, new information: apparently it was a false alarm. It’s gone again. Does this mean we’re good? Or should we still wait/use condoms? Probably was just implantation bleeding. Congrats, Dad to Be. ---
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2014, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girlfriend-missed-a-pill-now-her-period-is-here-1-5-weeks-early-how-to-proceed/678054/33 "2014-01-08T01:10:38Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > Probably was just implantation bleeding. Congrats, Dad to Be. Yeah, I have it on good authority that this isn’t the case. Yes, I know using condoms isn’t bad, I’ll spare you the explanation. Thanks for all the advice, guys. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2014, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girlfriend-missed-a-pill-now-her-period-is-here-1-5-weeks-early-how-to-proceed/678054/34 "2014-01-08T01:57:55Z")
Man, too late to earn your red wings? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girlfriend-missed-a-pill-now-her-period-is-here-1-5-weeks-early-how-to-proceed/678054.md?page=1)