The effectiveness of contraceptive pills is influenced, among others, by heat and greater air humidity. See what temperatures can reduce the contraceptive effect and how to store them in order to 100% protect the pills against loss of effectiveness.

Contraceptive pillsare medications, so theirstorageis always specified by the manufacturer and recommendations should be followed urgently. Otherwise, the effectiveness of these contraceptive pills may be reduced.

How the storage of contraceptive pills affects their effectiveness

The composition of the contraceptive pill, as is the case with other drugs, contains various chemical compounds. Many of these compounds can be transformed under the influence of external factors, so the manufacturer's recommendations regarding the storage of drugs should not be underestimated.

Each pharmaceutical manufacturer is required to carry out a number of tests before admitting the product to sale. These studies also include the analysis of drug resistance to external factors that a given product may come into contact with. Circumstances that may potentially affect the composition of medications include, inter alia, sunlight, exposure to UV rays, moisture or high or low temperature.

Even though the durability of most drugs is greater than that specified in the leaflet, the manufacturer's instructions must be strictly followed. Under the influence of various factors, the drug may not only change its composition (oxidation or hydrolysis may occur), but even not be properly distributed in the body - the active substance may not be released in the digestive tract or stomach and simply be excreted. Then it is difficult to talk about any contraceptive effectiveness of the pills.

The effectiveness of the contraceptive pill may be lowered in the summer

The composition, durability and mode of action of birth control pills are influenced by many weather factors. Heat is caused not only by very high temperatures, but also by air humidity and sun exposure greater than usual. In a word, everything that can affect the effectiveness of a drug.

Though there is no data on measuring the effectiveness of birth control pills after exposurethese factors, it is absolutely necessary to follow the recommendations in the leaflet. Usually, manufacturers recommend that the pills be stored at room temperature (15-25 degrees Celsius). The acceptable temperatures range from 2 degrees Celsius to 30 degrees Celsius. On very hot days, the temperature at home can exceed 30 degrees, so it is very important to store the medicine in a suitable place at this time. The tablets should therefore be kept away from heat and moisture.

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What else can make the pills less effective?

In addition to improper storage of the package, there are several other factors that can influence the effects of birth control pills. The quality of the pills may deteriorate when:

  • Medication expired(applies to all medications). Expired contraceptive pills are not only the lack of a guarantee of the effectiveness of these measures, but also the risk of complications or poisoning.
  • there was a problem with the digestive system (vomiting, diarrhea)and the tablet was not absorbed in time. The normal absorption time of the active substance from the contraceptive pill is approximately 4 hours. If you experience diarrhea or vomiting sooner than taking the pill, there is a risk that the pill will not work.
  • the pill is missed in the cycle.The effectiveness of contraceptive pills is the highest when the fixed times of their intake are adhered to and it is done according to the schedule imposed by the manufacturer. If even one pill is omitted, the contraceptive effectiveness may be compromised. It is then recommended to use an additional contraceptive method (condom) for a week.
  • additional medications are taken . There are many drugs that can reduce the effect of contraceptives. These include antibiotics, antiepileptic drugs and even vitamin C (if its dose exceeds 1000 mg a day, it may interact with the contraceptive pill). Not everyone knows that birth control pills can also be weakened by herbs such as St. John's wort, which increases the liver's efficiency and contributes to faster breakdown and removal of the drug from the body. Read the package leaflets carefully to know which medications are reducing their effectiveness. The more so that some medications taken regularly with hormonal contraceptives may cause complications that are dangerous to he alth.

How do I store birth control pills?

Contraceptive pills should be stored as recommended in the leaflet of the drug manufacturer - incl. inspecified temperature, usually up to a maximum of 30 degrees. Otherwise, when, for example, the temperature is higher, it is worth putting the packaging in the refrigerator - on the shelf for storing vegetables (i.e. where it is warmest in the refrigerator).

A holiday trip to warm countries or transport in the heat can be problematic. Then it is worth to properly protect the tablets, i.e. put their packaging in a sachet or a special box for drugs. If you have a long journey in the heat, you can get a small container with a cooling cartridge and put a packet of tablets there. Avoid carrying the tablets with you all the time in very hot weather.

If you need to take a tablet away from home, you can take one pill with you in the bag and leave the rest of the packet in a cool room. The tablets should also be kept away from sun and moisture, so it's best to keep the packet in a drawer or cupboard or put it in a cosmetic bag.

You shouldn't keep birth control pills in the car, because the interior warms up quickly in the summer. The bathroom is also an unsuitable place for these medications, because then the pills are exposed to moisture.

What you absolutely need to remember is the expiry date of the tablets. It is worth developing a habit of checking these dates on the packaging, especially since contraception is usually bought with a supply of several months. Tablets with expired shelf life should be absolutely discarded.

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Pregnancy