Are you going on a trip abroad and wondering what time to take your pill if there is a jet lag? Time calculation as a function of its type of pill (combined, progestogen …)
It doesn’t matter that you go on a trip east or westthe maximum jet lag between two countries is 12 hours. This is good because most of the contraceptive pills (conventional combined pills and progestogy pills with deogestrel) allow A 12 -hour taking time (To find out what is the time to take, refer to the instructions for your pill). Indeed, “If forgetting the tablet dates back to less than 12 hours, contraceptive efficiency is not reduced“, Can we read on the notices of the pills (excluding microdosée pills at the Lévonogestrel), available on the site public database of drugs. But know all the same that the more important the time difference, the more the margin of oblivion is reduced because you will be at the limit of the 12 authorized hours, so you have to be vigilant.
At what time to take your pill in the event of a jet lag?
Whatever the duration of your stay and your destination, the easiest way is to transpose the grip schedule that you usually have in France. Examples:
► If you take your pill at 9 p.m. and travel to Ottawa in Canada, There are -6 hours of jet lag compared to France. You will have to take your pill at 9 p.m. local time (3 a.m. in France). The 12 -hour authorized time is not yet exceeded, but you only have 6 hours of margin.
► If you usually take your pill at 7 a.m. and travel to Tokyo in Japan, There are +7 hours time difference compared to France. In other words, when it is 7 a.m. in France, it is 2 p.m. in Japan. Again, take your pill at 7 a.m. local time: you just shifted your 7 -hour socket, which remains much less than the 12 hours allowed.
Note that you can get help by Apps like Pil ‘an hour, My Pill, My Pill, Lady Pill Reminder or Ipilule Who will remind you of taking your pill at your usual time. Finally, if you don’t want to waste time making your calculation, always keep a watch on you in French.
At what time to take your micro -rogestative pill at Lévonorgestrel?
Please note, some pills such as micro -rogestatives based on levonorgestrel (microval for example) do not authorize that a 3 -hour oblivion periodand not 12 hours like other pills. In this case, the timing is tighter. Practical cases:
► If you usually take your pill at 9 p.m. and travel to Ottawa in Canada, so west, you will have to take your pill at 3 p.m. local time (calculation: 9 p.m. – 6 a.m. (time lag France/Canada) = 3 p.m.). If you are traveling to Japan, it will be necessary to take it at 4 a.m. (calculation: 9 p.m. + 7 hours (time difference in France/Japan) = 4 a.m.). This requires putting your alarm clock in the middle of the night, but it is the only solution not to take any risks.
► But rest assured! As to take your pill in the middle of the night is restrictive, you can gradually shift its plug: that is to say that you can shift your 3-hour pill intake each day (these three hours correspond to the tolerance of forgetting the micro -rogestative pills at the levonogestrel) until reaching an hour of practical socket for you. Concretely:
| You go on a trip to Japan (time difference of + 7 hours) and you usually take your pill at 9 p.m. | |
|---|---|
| Taking time of the first tablet | Day 1: 4 a.m. |
| Time of taking the second tablet | Day 2: 1 a.m. |
| Third tablet time | Day 2: 10 p.m. |
| Fourth tablet | Day 3: 10 p.m. |
| Time of taking the fifth tablet | Day 4: 10 p.m. |
| Taking time of the following tablets … | Following days: 10 p.m. |
What precautions to take?
► Always have your pill on you as well as a reserve brochure to avoid forgetting. If you take the plane, remember to leave the brochure in your hand luggage And not in the hold to have your pill at hand.
► Anticipate your trip and remember to take as many pill plates as necessary. A pill renewal at the gynecologist may be expected before going on a trip.
► If you go for several months abroad, you can very well Gradually shift the pill (see table). In this case, do not worry if you take two tablets in less than 24 hours. As a doubt, ask your doctor or gynecologist for advice before leaving.
► Finally, if you go abroad regularly, oral contraception may not be the most suitable. Discuss the alternatives (contraceptive implant, vaginal ring, patch, IUD …) with your gynecologist.
► To do your calculations, do not forget to take into account the time change (Passage at winter time in October and passage to summer time in March).
