You might be able to test the limits on skincare products or those canned beans in your pantry, but birth control pills are one thing you don't want to use past their expiration date. Like most medications, expired birth control is likely to be less effective overall. That means taking birth control that's past its expiration date can put you at increased risk of pregnancy and make the pill less effective at managing pesky symptoms like painful cramps — two things you probably don't want to gamble on.
(Side note: condoms expire, too .) For some of us, it might be surprising to hear that birth control pills can even expire in the first place. It's not like you'll be able to see (or smell or taste) it when birth control pills have passed their expiration date, as you would with food, for example.
But unlike with food or even expired beauty products, it's not a question of whether expired birth control pills will make you feel poorly or have other adverse side effects. You may feel totally fine, but your birth control won't be as effective as it should be. So how do you know when your birth control is expired? And what should you do if you realize it is past its expiration date? Here's what an expert had to say.
Charlsie Celestine , MD, is a board-certified ob-gyn in New Jersey and host of the "For Vaginas Only" podcast. How Do You Know If Birth Control Is Expired? Luckily, it's easy. Check the expiration date printed on your birth control pack.
It should be printed on the pac.