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What time Should I take the pill?

Why Does It Matter When I Take My Pill?
What if I forget my pill?

For your Hana pill to be most effective at preventing pregnancy, you should take it at the same time every day, 365 days a year. It might be a bit hard to get used to at first, but making taking your pill part of your daily routine will help you to remember it.

Hana is all about contraception that suits you. We believe that contraception should be convenient – choosing the best time to take your pill is all part of making sure your contraception suits you. When you take Hana correctly, it is 99% effective at preventing pregnancy.* Interested in using Hana? Complete a consultation with your pharmacist to see if this type of contraception is right for you.

Whether your routine is as regular as clockwork, or every day is different, you should think about the time of day that you’re most likely to remember your pill. To help you out, we’ve put together a questionnaire that will help you to figure out when you should take your pill.

Why Does It Matter When I Take My Pill?

Your Hana pill is effective at preventing pregnancies because it works to consistently inhibit ovulation and thicken cervical mucus. This means that you don’t release an egg so, when you have sex, the chances of you getting pregnant are extremely low as there won’t be anything for the sperm to fertilise. No other contraceptive pill is more effective.*

To ensure your pill is as effective as possible, you need to take it at the same time each day – that’s one pill every 24 hours. To make remembering your pill as easy as possible, you should think about when it fits in best to your daily routine.

Not a morning person? No worries. When you choose to take your pill each day is entirely up to you! It doesn’t make a difference what time you take your pill, as long as you take it at the same time every day.

“I’m a morning person who loves to follow a daily routine”
You’re a morning person and we’re here for it! If your morning routine involves sunrise yoga or an early breakfast, this is a great time for you to take your pill. You can take your pill when you wake up, or work it into your morning routine. No matter where you keep your pill, make sure it’s below 30 degrees and out of sight and reach of children.

If you often get ready for your day in the same place, try to keep your pill packet in the same spot, such as by your bathroom sink or next to your bed to remind you to take it. Setting a reminder on your phone is also a great way to make sure you don’t forget your pill.

If mornings aren’t your favourite time of day, you’re a fiend for the snooze button and you often end up rushing around to get out of the door on time, this might not be the best time of day for you to remember to take your pill. Try one of our other options below.

 

“I like to follow a daily routine but I’m not a morning person”
When they said “the night time is the right time” they must have been thinking of you, night owl! Whether you stay up late to socialise with your friends or you work in the evenings, the best time to take your pill may be late afternoon or in the evening around 6pm.

Try to take your pill at the same time as another daily activity, such as just before having your dinner or taking off your makeup. Is there a TV show you watch everyday? If you’re tuning into a soap every evening at the same time, let the theme tune be your reminder to take your pill! Setting an alarm on your phone is also a great way to make sure you don’t forget your pill.

“Every day is different – I don’t follow a routine”
We aren’t all creatures of habit and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with going with the flow. In that case, the most important thing to do is find the time of day that works for you.

We recommend setting a reminder on your phone to take your pill around midday. That way, you’ll probably be up and awake and can take your Hana with your breakfast, lunch, or brunch. If you’re on the go a lot, consider keeping a packet of Hana in your handbag so that, wherever you are, you can take it.

What if I forget my pill?

It’s very important to take your pill at the same time each day for it to be effective. Here’s what to do if you miss your pill. The first thing you should do is take a look at your pack leaflet, which includes further information and advice. You can also read it online here.

You should take your pill at the same time every day for maximum effectiveness, but if you forget, check how long ago you should have taken your missed pill. If it was less than 12 hours ago, your pill will still be effective. If you realise that you’ve missed your pill but you’ve missed it by 12 hours or less, take the delayed pill straight away, and take your further pills as usual, even if this means taking two pills in one day. Don’t worry, your contraceptive protection should still be effective.

If you’ve missed a pill by more than 12 hours, you should take the most recently missed pill as soon as you remember, and then take the next pill as normal – even if this means taking two pills in one day. Use extra contraception (e.g. condoms) if you have sex in the following 7 days, because your pill may be temporarily less effective.

If you have missed one or more tablets in the very first week of taking Hana and had sex in the week before missing the tablets, the risk of getting pregnant is higher than at any other time in your cycle. Ask your pharmacist for advice and if you need to use emergency contraception.

If you’ve missed multiple days of your pill then do not take them all at once. Take the most recently missed pill and leave any earlier missed pills in the pack. Take your further pills as usual. This may mean taking two pills in one day. You should use a condom if you have sex in the 7 days after you resume taking your pill as it will not be effective right away.

If your period is late after missing any pills in the last month, or if you think you may be pregnant, take a pregnancy test. If the test is positive, stop taking Hana and see your doctor as soon as possible.

You should refer to the package leaflet for more information, and if you are still unsure consult a pharmacist or doctor.

So, here are Hana’s top tips for remembering your pill:

  • Set a reminder on your phone so you take your pill at the same time each day
  • Take your pill at the same time as another daily activity
  • If you worry that you might forget, consider keeping a pack in your handbag incase you remember when you’re on the go

Did you know that with Hana Direct’s subscription service you don’t need to worry about remembering to order your next pack of Hana when your supply is running low?

After your consultation with the online pharmacist, select Hana Direct’s subscription service and we’ll keep you up to date with when it’s time to re-stock. We’ll text or email you to check that you definitely want more Hana and to check that nothing’s changed with you. A pharmacist will then check if Hana is still suitable for you and we’ll take care of the rest! Find out more here.

*Verify at Hana.co.uk/verify