Question: How does the contraceptive pill work?
The pill contains two hormones, an estrogen and a progesterone, that are artificial equivalents of the two sex hormones that all women possess. These are combined in a manner which mimics the hormonal balance of pregnancy. The body is fooled into thinking that it is already pregnant, and will not allow the release of a further egg from the ovary.
The side effects of the pill are therefore the side effects of early pregnancy, but usually on a much milder scale. In addition, the pill prevents pregnancy by thickening the fluid in the neck of the womb so that there is a natural barrier to sperm, and it also alters the lining of the womb, making it more difficult for an egg to implant itself and develop.

Question: What should I do if I forget a contraceptive pill?
It is essential to take the pill properly for it to work. Forgetting even one pill could result in a very productive event nine months later!
With most types of the pill, if you forget one and then take it within eight hours, you will still be protected. With higher dose pills you have twelve hours grace, but with the single hormone mini-pills, you must take it within three hours of the same time every day for it to be effective.
If u miss a pill by more than these times, you should take the missed pill, and continue taking the rest of the pills at your usual time until the end of the pack but take other contraceptive precautions until after you have taken at least seven of tne active pills (do not count the sugar pills that you take at the end of each month).
If you miss more than one pill, stop the pill, use other contraceptive precautions (eg- condoms) until your next period starts, and then start a new pack of the pill. Do not rely on it until you have taken seven active hormone pills.
Remember, that if you have any vomiting or diarrhoea, you are effectively missing taking the pill, and must take appropriate precautions. After all precautions is better than cure.