If you are taking birth control pills you may want to check your packet to see if it is on the recall list. Pfizer announced early this month that a million of their birth control pill packets were being recalled due to manufacturing errors. If you are taking Lo/Ovral-28 tablets or generic Norgestrel and Ethinyl Estradiol tablets you may want to check the lot number of your pill packet on the Pfizer or FDA websites. 

All affected pills were labeled with an Akrimax Rx Products brand and have expiration dates ranging from July 31, 2013, to March 31, 2014.

If you have questions about this recall Pfizer has given a number for consumers to call for more information or to report any adverse effects: 1-877-509-3935

Although the manufacturing error poses no health risks to women taking these pills, there is a risk for pregnancy. It is advised that you contact your doctor if you have been taking the recalled pills and choose a back up method of contraception.

The birth control packets are packaged in blister packs having 21 tablets which contain active ingredients to prevent pregnancy and seven placebo pills to take during the week of menstruation. The manufacturing error, reportedly caused by inspection failure, allowed for some packets to have either too many placebo tablets or not enough. In addition some of the placebo or active tablets may be out of sequence. Possible repercussions of this error can be breakthrough bleeding or unintended pregnancy for some women.

If your pill packet has been recalled call your doctor or gynecologist immediately to report this information and use a non-hormonal back up method of contraception.

For more information about birth control please refer to the following Health Central resources:

• Emergency Contraceptives Center

• Your Guide to Using Birth Control

• Pregnancy Prevention Center

• How Much do You Know about Birth Control? (Quiz)