Going on holiday can mess up birth control. Here's how to stay on top of it

When you’ve got a million things to do and pack for the holidays, it can be easy to forget all about your contraception. In fact, this is a struggle almost 70% of women in the UK can relate to, according to a survey.

But while it’s really common to forget to take the contraceptive pill with you on holiday, the survey of LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor found that more than half (56%) of women are unsure what to do when this happens.

Millions of women in the UK take either the combined pill or ‘mini pill’ for contraception. When taken correctly, the pill is over 99% effective at preventing pregnancy – but forgetting to take the pill can reduce its effectiveness to 92%.

The NHS says that about eight in 100 people who use the combined pill a year become pregnant due to incorrect use, such as forgetting to take them.

Dr Sabah Salman, from LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor, explains what happens if you forget to take your pill when you go away, and advises on what to do about time zones.

What happens if I forget to take the pill on holiday?

You’ve arrived at your destination. As you unpack your suitcase, excited about the day ahead, it dawns on you – you’ve forgotten your pill packets! What do you do now?

The most important things you must not do, according to Dr Salman, are borrowing pills from friends or people you are travelling with, and having unprotected sex while not taking any birth control.

"If you are going to have sexual intercourse, always use a condom to prevent pregnancy and avoid sexually transmitted infections (STIs)," she advises.

"If you're on holiday in the UK, you may be able to order a prescription at a nearby pharmacy. However, if you're overseas, it can be more difficult, as certain types of contraception can be difficult to obtain in other countries."

As for what to expect while you’re on holiday without the pill, Dr Salman says: "Assuming you are going to be away from home for one to two weeks, you may experience some mild side effects from not taking your regular pill. If you’re on the combined pill, missing two or more consecutively may cause mild spotting or bleeding, alongside menstrual cramps.

"If you’re away for a longer period of time, and so miss more pills, you may experience side effects such as changes to your skin or mood swings.

"Once you return home and resume taking your pill, these side effects should subside, however if you feel like you need some advice after missing your pill for a longer period of time, always consult your GP."

I brought my contraception but I forgot to take it. What do I do?

Forgetting to take your pill happens to the best of us. How this affects you depends on the type of pill you are taking.

Combined pill:

If you have missed two or more combined pills, you will be less protected against pregnancy. If this has happened, leave any earlier missed pills and take the last pill you have missed, even if that means taking two in a day.

Keep taking your pill packet as usual, but use condoms for the next seven days to prevent pregnancy. If you have less than seven days’ worth of pills, do not take a break. Continue to use the new pill packet.

Mini pill:

If you are taking the progesterone-only pill (also known as the mini pill), you will have to find out which one you are taking – the three-hour or 12-hour version. This information can be found on your pill leaflet or online.

If the main component in your pill is desogestrel, you can take it within the same 12-hour period, and you will be protected.

However, if the main component is levonorgestrel, you will need to take this pill within the same three-hour period everyday. If you’re still unsure, contact your GP for advice and use condoms.

Watch: How going on holiday can affect your skin

How do I take the pill if I am travelling in different time zones?

If you have remembered to pack your pill packets, well done! But travelling into different time zones can make it confusing to know when to take them.

"If you're on the pill and are travelling long distance, it’s important to know that flying through different time zones can affect your pill schedule," Dr Salman says.

"For the best results, oral contraceptives should be taken at the same time each day, so if you’re travelling abroad, it’s best to keep your pill schedule the same as at home. For example, if you take your pill at 10am and travel to Greece (which is 2 hours ahead of the UK), it’s advised to take your pill at midday.

"If you’re still within your pill’s protection window (less than three hours for the mini pill and less than 24 hours for combined pills), take your missed pill as soon as you remember and take the next pill as usual –even if it means taking two the same day.

"When travelling long distances, it is also recommended that you take extra contraceptive pills with you, just in case of delays and lost luggage. When going through airports, contraceptive pills must be kept in their original packaging.

"The UK government website states that passengers don’t need to show proof that medication is prescribed to them. Still, all passengers need to know that all medications going through security could be given extra security screening."

Can I delay my period without taking the pill?

You may be looking to delay your period in order to enjoy a special occasion, go swimming while you’re on holiday, or any number of other reasons. However, what do you do if you’re not taking contraceptive pills?

In this case, Dr Salman advises that you can use a pill called Norethisterone that can delay your period by up to 17 days.

"It comes in the form of tablets, which you should start taking three days before your period is due. You must then take three tablets a day for the time you wish to delay your period," she explains.

"You can take the tablets for a maximum of 20 days, which will delay your period by a maximum of 17 days. You should get your period two or three days after you stop taking Norethisterone.

"Norethisterone is a prescription-only medicine. Your GP can prescribe it for you, or you can order it through an online service. It is not a contraceptive, and cannot be used to prevent pregnancy."

Read more about sexual health:

• How a new sexual health startup aims to break the stigma of STIs (Yahoo Life UK, 5-min read)

• What you need to know about hypersexuality and bipolar disorder (Yahoo Life UK, 6-min read)

• How to cope with painful sex after giving birth, as Paloma Faith speaks out (Yahoo Life UK, 6-min read)