Does Daylight Saving Time Affect Birth Control Pills?

Spring has sprung! With daylight saving time coming up in just a few days, you may be wondering how the time change affects your birth control pills. 

The short answer: While it’s generally better to take your birth control pills at the same time every day, daylight savings doesn’t present a problem. However, the type of birth control you’re using and how late you took your pill does matter.  

If you take a combination pill (containing both estrogen and progestin), taking your pill an hour or so late is totally fine as long as you take it within the day. The time change from daylight savings should not affect the effectiveness of the pills. 

On the other hand, taking a progestin-only pill more than 3 hours past your usual time puts you at risk for pregnancy, so if that happens, use a back-up method (like condoms) for the following 48 hours (2 days). You can also use emergency contraception as a back-up if you had unprotected sex after missing a pill.  

If you’re ever worried about messing up the timing of your pills, you can always make a health center appointment through the Planned Parenthood Direct app to speak with a nurse or doctor for instructions on what to do if you miss a pill. 

Ready to request birth control, UTI treatment, or emergency contraception? Download the Planned Parenthood Direct app today!