Guide

Late for Your Contraceptive Injection? Here's What to Do

Quick Answer

If your contraceptive injection (Depo-Provera) is more than 2 weeks late and you've had unprotected sex, emergency contraception is recommended. Get your injection as soon as possible and use backup contraception for 7 days.

When Is Your Injection Considered Late?

Depo-Provera is typically given every 12-13 weeks (about 3 months):

- On time: Within 13 weeks of your last injection
- Acceptable window: Up to 2 weeks late (15 weeks total)
- Late: More than 2 weeks overdue

Protection may be reduced once you're more than 2 weeks late.

Do You Need Emergency Contraception?

Assess your situation:

Situation	EC Needed?	Action
Less than 2 weeks late, no sex		Get injection ASAP
Less than 2 weeks late, had sex	Usually no	Get injection ASAP, protection likely intact
More than 2 weeks late, no sex		Get injection ASAP + use backup for 7 days
More than 2 weeks late, had sex		Take EC + get injection + backup for 7 days

Which EC to Choose

Either Postinor or Mifestad can be used:

- Both are effective regardless of your usual contraceptive method
- Choose based on timing (Mifestad if closer to 72+ hours)
- Neither will interfere with your injection schedule

Getting Back on Track

Here's your action plan:

Take EC if you've had unprotected sex while overdue
Schedule your injection appointment immediately
Get the injection as soon as possible (don't wait for your period)
Use backup contraception (condoms) for 7 days after the injection
Consider setting reminders for future appointments

Having Trouble Keeping Up with Injections?

If you frequently miss injection appointments, consider:

- IUD: Lasts 3-12 years, nothing to remember
- Implant: Lasts 3 years, inserted in your arm
- Monthly reminders: Set calendar alerts for your appointment
- Different method: Pills, patches, or rings might fit your routine better

Need EC because your shot is overdue? We can help.

Order EC Now

What this guide means in practice

Real situations are messier than the textbook examples in medication leaflets. A condom that broke, a missed pill day, a contraceptive injection that was scheduled too late, an IUD that came out — each is a valid reason to consider emergency contraception, and each comes with its own timing pressure and follow-up questions.

These situation guides are designed to start where you are. They acknowledge the specific event that caused you to look up EC in the first place and then walk through what to do next: how to estimate the time since the event, which product is most appropriate for that window, how to source it quickly in Metro Manila or the provinces, and what to track in the days that follow.

The goal is to keep one decision from spiraling into a stack of unfamiliar choices. Once you know which product fits your timing and your location, the rest of the process — ordering, receiving the medication, and confirming with a pregnancy test if needed — becomes much more straightforward.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you're more than 2 weeks (15 weeks since your last shot), your protection may be reduced. Get your injection as soon as possible and use backup contraception for 7 days.

No need to wait. You can get the injection any time. If it's been more than 2 weeks late, you may need a pregnancy test first, and you'll need backup contraception for 7 days after.

No. EC will not affect your contraceptive injection. You can get your injection on schedule regardless of when you took EC.

How Ruth Health supports this decision

Ruth Health was built around the practical realities of emergency contraception in the Philippines. That means treating timing seriously, offering discreet same-day delivery in Metro Manila, and ensuring the right product is dispatched for the patient's situation — including provincial delivery windows where Mifestad's longer effectiveness window matters.

Every order goes through a brief, evidence-based intake. When a clinician should weigh in — for example, when a patient is breastfeeding, on enzyme-inducing medications, or unsure about the time elapsed — that review happens before dispatch. Packaging is unbranded, delivery is tracked, and follow-up support is available through chat for as long as it is helpful.

When the situation has urgent components — severe pain, heavy bleeding, possible sexual assault, or signs of serious health issues — the recommendation is always to seek immediate care at a hospital or clinic, with EC support continuing alongside that care rather than replacing it.

Medical Sources

WHO Emergency Contraception Fact Sheet
FDA labeling for levonorgestrel and ulipristal acetate
ACOG guidance on emergency contraception
Peer-reviewed studies where noted in Ruth content

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