Does hot temperature damage birth control pills?
By
Dr Drielli Vital-Fujii (PhD)
Author bio
Dr Drielli Vital-Fujii, PhD, is a Pharmacist with expertise in Drug Design and Development, Enzymes, Molecular Modelling, and Photodynamic Therapy. She writes and reviews content on these topics.
Dr Drielli Vital-Fujii’s Highlights:
- Postdoctoral fellow at the Department of Biochemistry at the University of São Paulo, emphasizing therapy of neglected diseases using light.
- PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences focusing on drug design and development at the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences of the University of São Paulo.
- Six months as an international researcher at the Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases (University of California San Diego)
- Master’s degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences focusing on drug design and development at the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences of the University of São Paulo.
- Bachelor of Pharmacy at the University of Mogi das Cruzes – São Paulo / Brazil
Professional Experience:
2012 – 2018 Project manager at University of São Paulo – Pharmacy Department
Dr Drielli Vital-Fujii has worked with computational studies, synthesis, biological evaluation, design, and development of new inhibitor candidates for Chagas Disease and Leishmaniasis.
2017 – 2017 International research fellow at University of California San Diego Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences – Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases.
She used Virtual Screening (VS) and High-Throughput Screening (HTS) Integration in the Discovery of new drugs against neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).
2018 – 2019 Faculdades Oswaldo Cruz
Dr Drielli Vital-Fujii was a professor in the Faculty of Pharmacy, teaching the subjects of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Drug Development.
2019 – 2021 Researcher in Biochemistry University of São Paulo – Biochemistry Department
She applied Photodynamic Therapy in Leishmaniasis Treatment, mentored undergraduate students in scientific activities, and wrote, executed, translated, and reported scientific projects with funding agencies.
2023-2023 UniPiaget – University Center.
Dr Drielli Vital-Fujii was a Biology, Nutrition, Physiotherapy, and Pharmacy professor.
Education:
2018 -2021 Postdoctoral at the Department of Biochemistry at the University of São Paulo
2013 -2018 PhD of Science: Drugs and Medicines at Department of Pharmacy at University of São Paulo
2012 -2013 M.Sc. of Sciences: Drugs and Medicines at the Department of Pharmacy at the University of São Paulo
2005-2008 Bachelor of Pharmacy at the University of Mogi das Cruzes
The leading publications of Dr Drielli Vital-Fujii are:
Vital-Fujii, D.G, Baptista, M.S. (2021). Progress in the photodynamic therapy treatment of Leishmaniasis. Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research, 54, 1-11.
Gatti, F. M., Gomes, R.A., da Fonseca, A.L., Lima, E.J.C., Vital-Fujii, D.G., Taranto, A.G., Varotti, F.P., Trossini, G.H.G. (2020). Antiplasmodial activity of sulfonylhydrazones: in vitro and in silico approaches. Future medicinal chemistry, 13, 233-250.
Silva, E.J., Bezerra-Souza, A., Passero, L.F., Laurenti, M.D., Ferreira, G.M., Fujii, D.G.V., et al. (2018). Synthesis, leishmanicidal activity, structural descriptors and structure-activity relationship of quinoline derivatives. Future medicinal chemistry, 10, 2069-2085.
Leite, F.H.A., Froes, T.Q., da Silva, S.G., de Souza, E.I.M., Vital-Fuji,i D.G., Trossini, G.H.G., et al. (2017). An integrated approach towards the discovery of novel non-nucleoside Leishmania major pteridine reductase 1 inhibitors. European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 132, 322-332.
Vital, D.G., Damasceno, F.S., Rapado, L.N., Silber, A.M., Vilella, F.S., Ferreira, R.S., et al. (2017). Application of bioisosterism in design of the semicarbazone derivatives as cruzain inhibitors: a theoretical and experimental study. Journal of Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics, 35, 1244–1259.
Mello, J. F.R., Gomes, R.A., Vital-Fujii, D.G., Ferreira, G.M., Trossini, G.H.G. (2017). Fragment-based drug discovery as alternative strategy to the drug development for neglected diseases. Chemical Biology & Drug Design, 90, 1067-1078.
Pantaleao, S.Q., Fujii, D.G.V., Maltarollo, V.G., da C. Silva, D., Trossini, G.H.G., Weber, K.C., et al. (2017). The Role of QSAR and Virtual Screening Studies in Type 2 Diabetes Drug Discovery. Medicinal Chemistry, 13, 706-720.
Vital, D., Arribas, M., Trossini, G. (2014). Molecular Modeling and Docking Application to Evaluate Cruzain Inhibitory Activity by Chalcones and Hydrazides. Letters in Drug Design and Discovery, 11, 249-255.
Blau, L., Menegon, R.F., Trossini, G.H.G., Molino, J.V.D., Vital, D.G., Cicarelli, R.M.B., et al. (2013). Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of new aryl thiosemicarbazone as antichagasic candidates. European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 67, 142-151.
You can view some of Dr Drielli’s work below and links to her professional profile.
Orcid: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9270-0466
Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Drielli-Gomes-Vital-Fujii
Scopus: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=55829534000
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=F9U50AEAAAAJ&hl=pt-BR
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/driellivital
Escavador: https://www.escavador.com/sobre/6101380/drielli-gomes-vital
CDIPD: https://cdipd.org/index.php/about-us/visiting-scientists
Does hot temperature damage birth control pills?
Yes, hot temperatures can damage the stability and integrity of your birth control pills. This usually happens when you store it in a warm and humid place like a cabinet above your stove, or in your car on a hot day.
Birth control pills contain active ingredients that are sensitive to heat and can break down or lose their potency when exposed to elevated temperatures (1).
This degradation can affect the pills’ ability to release the right amount of hormones required to prevent ovulation and inhibit pregnancy.
Physical signs of damage caused by high temperature
When medications, including birth control pills, are exposed to high temperatures, they can show several physical signs of damage, which may vary depending on the specific drug and its formulation.
Some common physical signs of drug damage from the heat include discolouration, warping, cracks or breaks, coating damage, pill softening, etc (1).
The degradation of active ingredients can also occur at a molecular level without any physical signs, making it challenging to detect any changes in the appearance of the pills. Even if the drugs appear intact, their effectiveness may be compromised.
Ideal storage temperature for birth control pills
Most birth control pills are recommended to be stored at 15-30°C (2). Temperature above 30° can affect the stability of your pills, by damaging the active ingredient and other excipients added to make the drug stable (2,3).
However, if the medication is exposed for a short period of time, it’s not likely to be significantly damaged. It’s the prolonged exposure that causes the most damage.
What to do if you have left your birth control pills exposed to high temperatures?
If you have accidentally left your birth control pills exposed to high temperatures, it is essential to assess their potential effectiveness before continuing to take them.
High temperatures can cause damage to the pills and compromise their potency, increasing the risk of unintended pregnancies.
To check if the pills are still safe to use, carefully examine them for any visible signs of damage, such as discolouration, warping, or a change in texture. If you notice any abnormalities, it is best not to take those pills and consider them ineffective.
In such cases, it’s crucial to use a backup form of contraception and consult your healthcare provider for further guidance. If there are no visible signs of damage and the pills look normal, it might be safe to continue taking them, but it’s still advisable to use additional protection for the rest of the pill pack as a precaution.
If you are unsure or have any concerns, reach out to your healthcare provider to discuss the incident and seek appropriate advice. Your health and contraceptive efficacy are essential, so taking proactive steps in response to this situation is crucial.
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References
1.-
De Winter S, Vanbrabant P, Vi NT, Deng X, Spriet I, Van Schepdael A, Gillet JB. Impact of temperature exposure on stability of drugs in a real-world out-of-hospital setting. Ann Emerg Med. 2013 Oct;62(4):380-387.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2013.04.018. Epub 2013 May 24. PMID: 23711878. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23711878/
2.-
Madden JF, O’Connor RE, Evans J. The range of medication storage temperatures in aeromedical emergency medical services. Prehosp Emerg Care. 1999 Jan-Mar;3(1):27-30. doi: 10.1080/10903129908958902. PMID: 9921737. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9921737/
3.-
Crichton B. Keep in a cool place: exposure of medicines to high temperatures in general practice during a British heatwave. J R Soc Med. 2004 Jul;97(7):328-9. doi: 10.1177/014107680409700706. PMID: 15229258; PMCID: PMC1079525. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1079525/
