Expert: Lyndsay Mercier - 6/25/2008

Question
Hello,
I have a question that I have asked my pharmacist, but have not really received a satisfactory answer. I left my birth control pills in a car on a summer day for several hours, then took them out because I realized how hot the inside of the car was getting. I kept them on my person the rest of the day, and part of the day in my bag in a locker at a park. It was a hot summer day, but I needed to have my pills with me since I had to take one that afternoon. My question is, how much does heat affect birth control effectiveness? Are these pills ineffective? I do not usually keep them in really hot places, but for instance, my apartment does not have air conditioning. I noticed the pill packs say to "Store at room temperature" and I'm just wondering how much heat affects the pills and if I should be worried about their effectiveness.

Thanks!
Kristen

Answer
Kristen,

Most likely, your pills are fine. A few hours of heat probably won't cause them any damage. The way I see it, your body is 98.6 degrees, and obviously the pills work fine at that temperature when they are taken. Thats all I really have to go on, however, so I would suggest maybe reading the information pamphlet that comes with the pills, or maybe calling the manufacturer directly.

Good luck, I'm almost positive they're fine,

Lyndsay