The Takeaway. Like all medications, birth control pills expire. Taking expired pills may result in an unplanned pregnancy, so why take the risk? You should always check the expiration date on your pills before you begin using them.

How long does birth control expire?

As a rule of thumb, birth control pills usually expire about 12 months after the manufacturing date. The expiration date is set by the pharmaceutical company, which is required to test the medication for stability and effectiveness over a period of time.

Do birth control pills expire after a year?

Typically, birth control pills expire a year after the manufacture date, according to Killoran. There is some evidence that it will continue to work for a period of time after expiration, but it isn't clear for how long.