Birth Control Forum - Expired Birth Control...chances of Pregnancy?

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Q: Expired Birth Control...chances of Pregnancy?

asked by: fmaziarz on October 12th, 2004

New User

I am 19- I have been on birth control for over 2 years now. My medical insurance ended about 6 months ago and I cannot afford it. I was supplied by my gyno with about 12 months worth of free birth control sample packets, this was about a year ago. I have never been able to pay for my birth control so I had went to my gyno while I had insurance to get free sample packets. These packets were to expire may 2004(roughly 5 months ago) and I am on the last one now. How effective are these packets that are expired? I am getting married next september and have un-protected sex. I had an apendectimy when I was 12 and my appendix ruptured and might have caused scaring to my reproductive organs, and have also had chlamydia about 2 years ago and might have gone untreated for a while before then. What are my chances if becoming pregnant?

Question

is there anywhere I can get free birth control with a very low income?

Question

what are my chances of becoming pregnant now while on expired birth control having other internal reproductive problems?

Thanks- faith

Replies(5)

2littlegirlz

replied on October 12th, 2004

Experienced User

There is alaways a chance to become pregnant. All it takes is one little sperm to make it where it needs to go. As with any expired medication the effectiveness will become less the older it gets, thats why there is a date. I know in canada we have planned parenthood, this is where you can get bc at cost. You should try to find something in your area that can help you.

juniper

replied on October 12th, 2004

Experienced User

Expired pills might not work. Continue taking them but use backup protection until you can get to a clinic and get some fresh pills.

Don't rely on any hopes that you might be sterile from previous operations and stds. I thought that I probably was from a uterine infection when I was 17 and when I finally had my hysterectomy two months ago, the pathology report said there would have been no trouble at all with me conceiving.

You can find planned parenthood in cleveland - http://www.Plannedparenthood.Org/cleveland /centers.Html

if you are sexually active you should also have a yearly pelvic exam and pap. I know even the low cost clinics can be expensive, but you're worth it, this is your life you're talking about and your future.

Take care.

fmaziarz

replied on October 12th, 2004

New User

Sterile...

Well if I get pregnant it happens, I want kids but not necessasarily right this minute. But if it happens I am with open arms. I just wonder some times that if I can conceive. I would be terribly depressed if I couldn't have kids. I will see what is around here for me as for free birth control wise, I really cannot afford it at all. I have to pay about $100 a week to a relative to pay off my car so I can have a way to get to work and I only make about $180.00 a week and have several other bills and I have to eat. I honestly would love to go back to college but everything costs money.

Thanks- faith

horrorjunkie

replied on May 19th, 2009

New User

I have also been using some bc pills that expired, but they expired the month that I started taking them, do you think it is probably ok? Since they expire in May and I started taking them in the middle of May?

fdfdsfd

replied on June 25th, 2009

New User

Most drug companies but are rather aggressive with their expiration dates. They want you to go out my buy new medicine. Not to mention that all expiration dates have a window of extra time built in. Knowing that typical consumers might use something post expiration date, expiration dates are always a little shorter than they need to be.

As for birth control, it is still good 2 years from when you've bought them. Anytime after that is risky. I've heard this fact from multiple doctors. Remember that no matter how old your birth control pills are you still need to take them at the correct time everyday. It has to be within the same 3 hour period to be 99% effective in low dose pills.

I personally worry too much on the pill that I'll end up pregnant. Realistically about 8 out of 100 women end up pregnant on the pill each year. So I use an IUD. Much more effective but a big upfront cost.

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