For decades, “the pill” has given women—and their boyfriends—peace of mind when it comes to sex (and preventing the reproductive aspect that can sometimes emerge as a consequence of sex). But Pfizer’s recall of one million packages of faulty birth control pills is sure to keep many men awake at night. Birth control pills prevent pregnancy by inhibiting a woman’s natural hormone cycle. The packs contain 21 colored pills with synthetic hormones and seven inert white pills. When taken correctly, they are 99.9% effective, which is about as good as it gets. If a woman skips a pill, or takes them out of sequence, her risk of pregnancy increases. Pfizer, the world’s largest drug manufacturer, recalled the packages after they discovered that the dosages in the faulty pills were mixed up. The packs contained the wrong number of active and inactive pills, and they may have been out of order. Women using these packages are at risk of unplanned pregnancies. The pills were made and packaged by Pfizer, and were marketed in the U.S. by Akrimax Rx Products in New Jersey. The recall affects the Lo/Ovral-28 (norgestrel and ethinyl estradiol) tablets and the generic Norgestrel and Ethinyl Estradiol tablets. More information on the affected packs can be found on Pfizer’s website. If your partner has been using one of the affected packs, she should return it to the pharmacy. And unless you’re dying to have kids, you should immediately switch to using a non-hormonal form of birth-control, such as condoms.
