Does it matter if you take birth control pills at a different time every night?

Question

I am getting married in a month, and I am just wondering if it is completely necessary to take the pill at the EXACT same time every day. Usually I take it between 10PM and 1AM. How important is it that I take the pill at the same time each day...would just a few hours difference cause the pill not to work?

Answer 1

it is extremely important to take them at the same time. each pill is 24 hours of activation. if you go longer than 24 hours between pills you are decreasing its effectiveness.  

Answer 2

You need to take it at as close to the exact time each day as possible. Yes, fluctations by a few hours can cause the pill not to work. If you have trouble remembering to take it, associate it with a common task you do every day, such as brushing your teeth or watching the news (that's what I do, I take mine at 11 p.m. each night). Be careful...you don't want it to not work. And, congratulations on your marriage. I am getting married myself in three weeks.

Answer 3

supposedly... but i have to tell you i have been on the pill for four years now, i never take my pill at the same exact time, and most of the time i forget to take it. So i'm always taking two pills at a time. I have had no babies yet.

Answer 4

It says on the information page that comes with your perscription that it is most effective when taken within 3 hours of the time you took it the day before so you should be fine. The longer you wait the longer your body has to try and produce and fertalize an egg.

Answer 5

I would recommend taking the pill as close to the same time everyday if you want it to be as effective as possible.

I was on birth control pills about 13 years ago.

If you won't take my word for it, you can always ask my 12 year old son ;)

Sometimes the best gifts in life are the ones you didn't expect!

Answer 6

Every birth control pill I've ever been on (Ortho Tri Cyclen, OTC Lo, Yaz, and Loestrin24) has told me to take it at the same time in the packets.  You really DO need to take it at the same time (no more than a fluctuation of an hour, I'd say) if you want to do everything in your power to prevent pregnancy, especially if you are someone who has menstrual irregularities when not on the pill.  Good luck - have a beautiful wedding!!