What should be assessed to evaluate the risk of pregnancy after missed contraceptive pills?

To evaluate the risk of pregnancy after missed contraceptive pills, assessing the total number of missed pills is crucial because it directly influences the effectiveness of the contraceptive method being used. Most hormonal contraceptives require strict adherence to dosing schedules to maintain adequate hormone levels that suppress ovulation and prevent pregnancy.

If multiple pills are missed, the likelihood of ovulation increases, and therefore, the risk of unintended pregnancy becomes higher. Understanding how many pills have been missed helps in determining the need for alternative contraceptive methods and the timing of potential preventive measures, such as emergency contraception.

While analyzing the recent sexual history, menstrual cycle regularity, and use of other medications may provide additional context and information, they do not provide a direct assessment of the immediate risk of pregnancy as the total number of missed pills does.