I ran my fingers over the small plastic case, still in my desk drawer. Like thousands of other women across Canada, I’d been taking Seasonique for its promise of fewer periods per year, a benefit that seemed miraculous compared to traditional birth control. But now, standing in my apartment in Vancouver’s West End with my phone buzzing with concerned texts, that small convenience had transformed into a significant worry.
Health Canada announced yesterday a nationwide recall of Seasonique birth control after packages were found missing active hormone pills or containing pills in the wrong sequence. For women who rely on this medication, the implications extend far beyond inconvenience.
“This isn’t just about missing a pill,” explains Dr. Nadia Sharma, an obstetrician-gynecologist at BC Women’s Hospital. “When hormonal contraceptives aren’t taken correctly, whether because of user error or packaging mistakes, the effectiveness drops significantly. We’re talking about an increased risk of unplanned pregnancy.”
According to Health Canada’s alert, the recall affects lot numbers 289241 and 289401 with expiration dates of January 2025. The notice came after multiple consumers reported inconsistencies in their pill packs, including completely missing tablets and incorrect ordering.
The manufacturer, Teva Canada, confirmed the recall in a statement, advising patients to “check their packages immediately and contact their healthcare provider if they notice any abnormalities.”
Walking through Vancouver’s Commercial Drive neighborhood yesterday afternoon, I stopped at Pharmasave where pharmacist Miriam Chen was already fielding questions from concerned patients.
“We’ve been calling everyone we know is on Seasonique,” Chen explained as she checked inventory behind the counter. “But many women get their prescriptions delivered or from multiple pharmacies, so we’re worried about reaching everyone.”
Seasonique differs from traditional birth control pills by using a 91-day cycle that reduces the number of periods to just four per year. The extended-cycle regimen includes 84 active hormone tablets (levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol) followed by seven low-dose estrogen pills. This makes any disruption in the pattern particularly problematic.
When I visited the University of British Columbia’s Student Health Services, nurse practitioner Jamie Woodworth was organizing an information session for affected students.
“The challenge with hormonal contraceptives is that effectiveness depends on consistent use,” Woodworth told me. “A packaging error creates a situation where someone might think they’re protected when they’re not.”
Data from the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada shows that with perfect use, hormonal contraceptives are up to 99% effective at preventing pregnancy. However, with typical use – accounting for missed pills and other human factors – that number drops to around 91%. Manufacturing errors that disrupt the carefully sequenced hormone delivery further compromise this effectiveness.
For 26-year-old Melissa Trudeau, a graduate student I interviewed near Granville Island, the recall comes with additional concerns.
“I take Seasonique not just for birth control but to manage endometriosis,” she explained. “Missing active pills means breakthrough bleeding and pain that impacts my daily life. It’s frustrating that something so essential to my health could have quality control issues.”
Women’s health advocates point out that this recall highlights broader issues around reproductive healthcare access and reliability in Canada.
“When contraceptive access is disrupted, women bear the consequences,” says Erin McDonnell, director of advocacy at Women’s Health Access Now, a national non-profit organization. “We need better systems to ensure contraceptive reliability and adequate backup options.”
Health Canada recommends that anyone using Seasonique check their packages and contact their healthcare provider immediately if they notice missing or out-of-sequence pills. Those with affected packages should use backup contraception methods and return the product to
