Pregnancy Checklist If You Miss Pills ...................................................... Inside back cover Effectiveness Chart.......................................................... Back cover

Pregnancy Checklist

Ask the client questions 1–6. As soon as the client answers “yes” to any question, stop and follow the instructions below.

NO

1

2 Did you have a baby less than 6 months ago, are you fully or nearly-fully breastfeeding, and had no monthly bleeding since then? Have you abstained from sexual intercourse since your last monthly bleeding or delivery?

3 Have you had a baby in the last 4 weeks?

YES

4

5

6 Did your last monthly bleeding start within the past 7 days (or within the past 12 days if the client is planning to use an IUD)? Have you had a miscarriage or abortion in the last 7 days (or within the past 12 days if the client is planning to use an IUD)? Have you been using a reliable contraceptive method consistently and correctly?

If the client answered “no” to all questions, pregnancy cannot be ruled out. The client should wait for her next monthly bleeding or use a pregnancy test. If the client answered “yes” to at least one of the questions, and she has no signs or symptoms of pregnancy, you can give her the method she has chosen.

If You Miss Pills

Always take a pill as soon as you remember, and continue taking pills, one each day. Also...

If you miss pills 3 days or more in a row, or if you start a pack 3 days or more late:

OR FOR

If you miss those 3 or more pills in a row in week 3:

If you miss any nonhormonal pills (last 7 pills in 28-pill packs only): Use condoms or avoid sex for the next 7 days

Use condoms or avoid sex for the next 7 days

OR FOR

Nonhormonal pills Also, skip the nonhormonal pills (or skip the pill-free week) and start taking pills at once from the next pack

Discard the missed pills and continue taking pills, one each day