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A member asked:

I take expire birth control pills that is way old have sex think it was ok, but see my period could i still get pregnant the pills i toke i got them in june 2010, but that was my last taking them cause i wasn't sexual active on till now 2012 when i went

1 doctor answer2 doctors weighed in
Dr. Laura McMullen
Pediatrics 23 years experience
Most : Most medications have an expiration date and it is always safest to check it before you use the medication. The other thing to keep in mind about birth control pills is that when you are restarting them after being off of them for a while, you need to use a back-up method of birth control for the first 7 days you are on them. The pills may not protect you from pregnancy in those first 7 days. As far as finding out if you are pregnant, you can either take a home pregnancy test as long as it has been 5- 6 weeks since your last normal period, or you can go see your doctor and they can test you. A home pregnancy test is 97% accurate if taken a week or more after the missed period. A blood test can tell if you are pregnant as soon as 7 days after conception and a doctor's urine pregnancy test can tell if you are pregnant around when you next period should come. If you are not pregnant, talk to your doctor about restarting the pill or finding another form of birth control that works for you. Good luck!
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Related questions

A 19-year-old female asked:
Ive been on birth control for a year now and im on my last pill before my period would start and ive just noticed i started having brown discharge today w no other symptoms. i am sexually active. i take sprintec?
Dr. Wayne Ingram
Specializes in Obstetrics and Gynecology
The brown discharge is probably the hormonal withdrawal bleeding that you interpret as a "period" on the Sprintec contraceptive.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A female asked:
I havnt got my menstral period for about 3 months this has happened be for but i just don't understand why I am not taking any birth control I am not currently sexually active and don't seem to carry any sign of being pregnant
Dr. Laura McMullen
Pediatrics 23 years experience
There : There are other reasons besides pregnancy that can cause a woman to miss a period such as: stress, diet, excessive exercise or a hormone imbalance suc... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 36-year-old female asked:
I started xulane birth control patch. does it work right away? period isn't due in the end of the month. started two days ago and have been sexually active. does it lower the odds of getting pregnant at least? if it hasn't taken effect?
Dr. Ralph Boling
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If you start: close to the beginning of your cycle, first day or two of flow, it works quickly, otherwise about two weeks, it may help early. However, that may not ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 19-year-old female asked:
My period was shorter than normal & I am not on birth control & I am sexually active & I have some pregnancy symptoms could I pregnant ?
Dr. Frank Amico Jr
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Unlikely: Probably not but if you are unsure get a pregnancy test done.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
View all answers
A 20-year-old female asked:
Not on birth control. Sexually active. Use pull out method. Had 3 days of dark brown spotting 10 days after period ended. Could i be pregnant?
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Internal Medicine 40 years experience
Likely not: Only a pregnancy test can confirm it. Get examined for reassurance.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Last updated Nov 30, 2017

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