Pill reminders - helping you stay protected

Forgetting to take the pill is the most common reason for contraception to fail. Depending on the type of pill you are taking there might be some leeway, but you need to take it around the same time every day in order for it to be effective. Luckily, we live in the digital age where there are plenty of options to help you remember.

Reminder apps

Search ‘contraceptive pill reminder app’ in your app store and you’ll find countless options for apps whose sole function is to remind you to take your pill. The best ones are apps like myPill which allow you to set a reminder for your preferred time and also shows when you can expect your period and when you're due for a check-up with your GP. You also have the option to track symptoms and take notes, allowing you to manage your birth control from your phone.

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There is an iPhone app called my OC which can be used for specific brands of the pill. These include:

Cilique® 250/35 microgram tablets
Cerelle® 75 microgram film-coated tablets
Lucette® 0.03 mg/3 mg film-coated tablets
Rigevidon® 150 micrograms/30 micrograms coated tablets
Millinette® 20/75 microgram coated tablets
Millinette® 30/75 microgram coated tablets
Gedarel® 20/150 microgram film-coated tablets
Gedarel® 30/150 microgram film-coated tablets
TriRegol® coated tablets

This means that if you forget a pill, the app will be able to give you specific advice about what action you should take, based on where you are in your cycle. These brands contain differing levels of hormones so it’s important you follow the advice for the type of pill you are taking.

Alarms

If you don’t want to download an app, you can always set a recurring alarm on your phone to go off every day. You can include a message such as ‘take a pill’ and snooze it if you’re unable to take the pill right away. This means it will keep reminding you to make sure you don’t forget.

It’s always best to choose a time of day that’s convenient for you. If you’re always rushing in the morning, then adding your pill to this might make things even more stressful. Perhaps the evening would be an easier time for you. If you work nights, maybe take the pill when you wake up and stick to this time on your days off. Do what works best for you.