News Moms Need

Sandoz is recalling 10 lots of Introvale® birth control pills due to a packaging error. The mistake has to do with how each pill is assigned to each day and week of the month. If you use Introvale® as your birth control pill, the recalled pills don’t put your health at risk. However, it can leave you without enough contraception and put you at risk for an unplanned pregnancy.

Each 3 month pack of Introvale® has 12 rows of peach colored pills and 1 last row of white (placebo) pills. The recalled lots mistakenly have the white placebo row in another row, not the final 13th row as it should be in.

If you find the white placebo row in any position other than the 13th row, start using another kind of non-hormonal contraception as a backup, such as condoms. Also, talk to your health provider and contact Sandoz to report the finding at 800-525-2492 or qa.druginfo@sandoz.com. To learn more about the recall, visit the FDA website.

The birth control  Lo/Ovral®-28 as well as its generic version, Norgestrel and Ethinyl Estradiol, are being recalled  because of a packaging error.

Birth control pills are taken each day in the order they appear in the package. However, the recalled birth control pills may not be in the right order. While the packaging mistake doesn’t harm women’s health, it can leave women without enough contraception and put them at risk for an unplanned pregnancy.

If you’re taking any of the recalled birth control pills, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends that you start using a barrier method, such as condoms, for birth control as a backup. FDA also says to talk to your health provider and return the recalled birth control to your pharmacy.

For more information about the recall, visit the FDA website. Learn more about birth control.

Qualitest pharmaceuticals is recalling several of its oral contraceptive products (birth control pills) because of a packaging error. The mistake has to do with how each pill is assigned to each day of the month. While the error doesn’t put women’s health at risk, it can leave women without enough contraception and put them at risk for an unintended pregnancy.

The birth control pill recall includes:
• Cyclafem™ 7/7/7
• Cyclafem™ 1/35
• Emoquette™
• Gildess® FE 1.5/30
• Gildess® FE 1/20
• Orsythia™
• Previfem ®
• Tri-Previfem®

If you have any of the recalled birth control pills, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends that you start using another form of non-hormonal birth control as a backup, such as condoms, and talk to your health provider or pharmacist.

For more information about the recall, visit the FDA website. Learn more about contraceptives.

It’s best for a woman’s health to wait 18 months before getting pregnant again. It gives your body time to heal, rebuild its energy stores, and it lets you get used to being a mom. And short birth intervals can have negative outcomes for both mom and baby. Since ovulation can take place as soon as 25 days after delivery, it’s important to establish a contraceptive plan to ensure you’ve got the time you need.

If you plan to go back on the pill, when should you start taking it again? New recommendations from the CDC say it’s very important to wait at least three weeks after giving birth before starting estrogen-progestin combined oral contraceptives. Why? Studies have shown that there is a significant increase in the risk of serious, potentially fatal blood clots, called venous thromboembolism or VTE, in women who use the combined contraceptive during the first 21 days postpartum.

The recommendations go on to say that 21-42 days postpartum, women without risk factors for VTE generally can begin combined hormonal contraceptives, but women with risk factors for VTE (e.g., previous VTE or recent cesarean delivery) generally should not use these methods. After 42 days postpartum, no restrictions apply to the use of combined hormonal contraceptives based on postpartum status.  Any other medical conditions, however, need to be taken into account.  Women who are breastfeeding also should steer clear of the combined pill because of the side effect it has of reducing milk production.

What about the other forms of contraception?  It’s still safe to immediately start using other birth control methods like progestin-only contraceptives (pills, injections, and implants), intrauterine devices (IUDs), and contraceptive methods other than combined hormonal contraceptives. It’s a good idea to plan ahead with your health care provider before you deliver so that you can start your preferred method of contraception at the best time for you once you deliver.