What To Do If You Were Affected By The Mibelas 24 Fe Recall

As you’ve (hopefully) heard by now, a certain brand of birth control has issued a recall, and its implications are both wide-reaching, and potentially worrisome. Mibelas 24 Fe birth control has warned users of a packaging mistake that could lead to unwanted pregnancy. Because several placebo pills were placed in the wrong spots in many packages, women who have used Mibelas might have consumed the placebo pills instead of the tablets that release the ever-important hormones, without their knowledge. Now, many are wondering what to do if you were taking Mibelas 24 Fe birth control while having unprotected sex.

First off, you'll definitely want to talk to your doctor. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration released information on the Mibelas recall last week, informing consumers that they need to check their labels as soon as possible. According to the FDA,

A confirmed market complaint indicated a packaging error, where the blister was rotated 180 degrees within the wallet, reversing the weekly tablet orientation and making the lot number and expiration date no longer visible. The first four days of therapy would have had four non-hormonal placebo tablets as opposed to the active tablets.

So, if you’ve already checked your labels and realized you might be impacted by the company’s mistake, what do you do next?

Well, the short answer is exactly what the FDA advises: “Consumers who have the affected product should notify their physician and return the product to the pharmacy or place of purchase.” But, logistically speaking, this could be easier said than done. While going to see your doctor is definitely a great course of action, you could also take a quick trip to the drug store (or Amazon Prime Now, no judgement), and buy a home pregnancy test.

If you can get into your doctor, definitely ask if there’s anything you can do to further prevent an unwanted pregnancy. Even though the FDA reports that “there have been no reports of such adverse events,” you probably shouldn’t wait to find out if you’re the first. Luckily, there are several ways you can do your best to prevent pregnancy, even if your birth control fails you.

If you only took two days worth of the placebo pills when you were supposed to be taking the regular hormonal capsules, you can double-up doses for two days, using the non-placebo pills. If you’ve missed more than two days of your hormonal birth control pills, though, things can start to get tricky. You can definitely take a Plan B pill if it’s been 72 hours or less since you’ve had unprotected sex, but any longer and you’ll want to see your doctor.

For many women, getting pregnant is a health risk in and of itself, so this recall is seriously worrisome. However, if you took Mibelas 24 Fe while having unprotected sex, don’t worry too much. Your doctor should be able to offer some good solutions, and you can always call the company for a refund.