I forgot to take 5 pills in a row (my alarm was deactivated and I completely forgot) and that was during my fertility window (my ovulation was on the 23rd of June). My partner and I have had unprotected sex every day and he finished inside me every time. Today I woke up and had breakthtough bleeding, that's when I remembered the pills. What are the chances that I could be pregnant?

Quite possible.

The bleeding very possible because you forgot the pills. You can not just remember ? A pill every day ?

But of course if you had taken the pills, there is still a small chance of pregnancy, because the pills are not 100 percent effective. So if you do not want pregnancy, consider at least two forms of birth control.

Also, how do you know, that is when you ovulate, do you test for ovulation, or merely use a online or phone app, (which is not correct for many women).

But yes by missing the pills, you have greatly increased the chance of pregnancy, and really need to go an entire month taking the pills correctly to be at highest coverage again.

I just count 14 days back from the day my next period is due to find when I'm ovulating. In general this is supposed to work for most women. Given the circumstances what do you think are my chances?

The bleeding very possible because you forgot the pills. You can not just remember ? A pill every day ?

But of course if you had taken the pills, there is still a small chance of pregnancy, because the pills are not 100 percent effective. So if you do not want pregnancy, consider at least two forms of birth control.

Also, how do you know, that is when you ovulate, do you test for ovulation, or merely use a online or phone app, (which is not correct for many women).

But yes by missing the pills, you have greatly increased the chance of pregnancy, and really need to go an entire month taking the pills correctly to be at highest coverage again.


I just count 14 days back from the day my next period is due to find when I'm ovulating. In general this is supposed to work for most women. Given the circumstances what do you think are my chances?

Most women, but you have no idea if you are "most women".

There is no guess on chances, yes there is a chance, no way to determine percentages.

Most women, but you have no idea if you are "most women".

There is no guess on chances, yes there is a chance, no way to determine percentages.


Okay thank you

I am sorry, I was giving more "short" answers and upon reading them, it appears they may have seemed rude. That was not the intent. The facts are that some women ovulate at many other times, and that women is not always the other women. So no ovulation times is just a guess for anyone, unless they actually track it. Most women do not understand them, and think the day count is exact. And it may be within one or two days.

Not to get pregnant, you need to treat each sexual encounter, like you are ovulating. Because it could happen. While very rare, getting pregnant during your cycle is even possible for some women.

Birth control pills give too many women a false sense of safety from pregnancy, and why it does help, many women every year get pregnant while on the pill. Some using the pill and condoms have gotten pregnant.

The issue with odds, what is the odds you were ovulating ? What are the odds, or how much reduced was the protection, what are the odds of sperm reaching egg, (even if no pills and sex on ovulation, pregnancy does not always happen)

So perhaps the chances of pregnancy went from 1/2 percent (proper use of pills) to maybe 5 or 10 percent. But the issue with odds, even if they were 1 in one million, a few people will be that one.

What are the chances you WANT to be pregnant? Forgetting 5 days in a row, during mid-cycle, is a bit suspicious. I have no vested interest in this of course, so it isn't meant to be accusative, but I hope you consider it. Happens all the time.

As stated, there is NO accuracy in counting days to know when you are ovulating. Google how to take your temperature instead.

I like Fr_Chucks explanation of what 'chances' mean, a difficult subject for some women to understand. When I try to explain, I always end with "What if your chances are 1%? It's meaningless if you are that one in a hundred - ou are still 100% pregnant.

I am sorry, I was giving more "short" answers and upon reading them, it appears they may have seemed rude. That was not the intent. The facts are that some women ovulate at many other times, and that women is not always the other women. So no ovulation times is just a guess for anyone, unless they actually track it. Most women do not understand them, and think the day count is exact. And it may be within one or two days.

Not to get pregnant, you need to treat each sexual encounter, like you are ovulating. Because it could happen. While very rare, getting pregnant during your cycle is even possible for some women.

Birth control pills give too many women a false sense of safety from pregnancy, and why it does help, many women every year get pregnant while on the pill. Some using the pill and condoms have gotten pregnant.

The issue with odds, what is the odds you were ovulating ? What are the odds, or how much reduced was the protection, what are the odds of sperm reaching egg, (even if no pills and sex on ovulation, pregnancy does not always happen)

So perhaps the chances of pregnancy went from 1/2 percent (proper use of pills) to maybe 5 or 10 percent. But the issue with odds, even if they were 1 in one million, a few people will be that one.


Yeah I understand what you're saying. I didn't ask for a percentage though, just to know your opinion on whether you believe I could be pregnant. Oh and an update, I still have blood and it's heavy.

"I didn't ask for a percentage though". Yes you did--3 times you asked "What are the chances that I could be pregnant?" it's 50/50, you either are or are not.

"I didn't ask for a percentage though". Yes you did--3 times you asked "What are the chances that I could be pregnant?" it's 50/50, you either are or are not.

I meant high low etc. Anyway thank you.

There is no way to know "how high or low" the chances are since we don't know whether you were ovulating. You are just going to have to play the waiting game and see if your next period comes as expected.

There is no way to know "how high or low" the chances are since we don't know whether you were ovulating. You are just going to have to play the waiting game and see if your next period comes as expected.

Yeah that's what I'll do and hopefully my period will come on the 6th.

I don't agree that your chances are 50/50 just because you either are or are not pregnant. Your chances are unknown. I'd have thought they are higher than 50% if you hadn't started bleeding, and now think they are under 50%. But chances are meaningless because you are or you aren't, and if you are, you are 100% pregnant.

The fact of the matter here is that ANYTIME there is penile insertion, there is the risk of pregnancy. You can reduce the risks, but not eliminate them. So if yhou are sexually active, you could get pregnant.

For anyone to give you a probability would be just guesswork.