4 month expired birth control pills still effective?

Question

Birth control pill question here. I take Tri-cyclen and a few days ago I started my new pack. I was really busy so I wasn't able to buy them until day 3 so I was taking the ones I had left over from my backup collection. The thing is I only now realized that they are expired for 4 months...

So the first 2 pills that I took were expired. The 3rd one I took was fine. My question is, are they still effective? How will this affect my period? Will I start on time as I usually do or will I start later? Earlier? The 2 pills that were expired were the white pills, 0.180mg norgestimate / 0.035gm Ethinl estradiol. I hope someone can help me out here. Thanks! Kathy

Answer 1

hi Kathy,
I called my Pharmacist for you. She said YOU ARE SAFE.
She also had some interesting WARNINGS TOO.
1. DO NOT GET ANY BIRTH CONTROL FROM MEXICO EVER!!!
They scratch out the expiration dates on the packaging inside on the pill boxes themselves! She had this happen to her.
2. The pharmacy rarely sells expired BC pills. If it happens return them ASAP for new ones NO problem.
3. Just for this month you should probably use extra protection if you are concerned about getting pregnant.
Hope this helps you out,
Carol

Answer 2

Expired Birth Control

Answer 3

You will probably be fine. But if you do the deed use a condom (always good if you arent married because of STDs, pregnancy and so forth). The point of an expiration date is that after time medication looses its potency and does not work as well. Make sure you throw out the old pack. Since you only took it for a few days you will most likely be fine just make sure you throw out all old medicine you have. Sometimes pharmacies also make mistakes and may give you expired birth control packs (rarely but does happen) so always check the date before you take it. If a pharmacy ever gives you an old pack take it back asap to get a new one.

Answer 4

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Birth control pills work by maintaining a steady level of hormones in your system that prevents you from ovulating (normally, when not on birth control, your body goes through a cycle of preparing and then releasing a hormone spike that causes ovulation). Because you're taking a regular dose of hormones, there's no "spike" that triggers ovulation, so you don't release an egg, and no egg means nothing for sperm to fertilize, ergo no pregnancy! The hormones build up in your system, which is why birth control pills need to be taken daily for at least a week to provide full protection, and why you're still protected on the fourth week even though you're not taking active, hormone-containing pills. The placebo pill week serves two purposes- it keeps you in the habit of taking a pill daily, so you're less likely to forget, and it creates what's called a withdrawal bleed. You aren't actually having your period- as above, there's no ovulation, so your body doesn't start lining your uterus with the blood and nutrients like it usually does in anticipation of sustaining a pregnancy. But the lack of hormones will nonetheless cause you to bleed as if you were having your period (and in fact, because they aren't real periods with all the aforementioned uterine lining, many people on birth control find their "periods" getting lighter over time). The monthly withdrawal bleeds can be nice- lots of women like them because they serve as a reminder that they're not pregnant, or keep them feeling like they've got a natural rhythm, etc.. But if you don't want periods, there are brands of pills that have no sugar/placebo weeks, or just a few (like four times a year, say)- you take an active pill every day and as such you have no periods or only a few periods. I'd highly suggest going and talking to your gynecologist; he or she can go over all the options with you- including whether or not birth control pills are the best contraceptive choice as you move into married life- and answer any questions. I know it feels unnecessary and dumb, but contraceptive counseling with you, your partner, and a professional is important, for your physical health, your relationship, and your reproductive future. Hope that helps!

Answer 5

when pills expire, they start to lose their effect. It should not effect your period at all. Keep in mind that there could be some months where you skip a period or it is late. If you are sexually active and have skipped a period, you should discontinue use of the pills until you consult your doctor.

Answer 6

Pills are guarenteed 100% effective til the expiration date. They then lose their strength gradually. If they expired 4 months ago, their about 98% effective.

Answer 7

1

Answer 8

you will get your period just fine, but if you dont want to get pregnant there comes a problem. use another method such as
a condom. if you suspect that you are pregnant use the day after pill. that should pretty much take care of it.<333

Answer 9

this would be a good time to cosult your doc, and if you had any sex during that time, pray that you aren't pregnant. medication of any kind should not be taken after the expiration date.

Answer 10

call a doctor just to make sure