Pfizer recalling one million birth control packets that could raise risk of unintended pregnancy

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Carla Portilo gave birth to a baby boy this morning. Mommy and baby Jayden are doing well, but word is spreading quickly about the birth control pills Pfizer is recalling.

"Yes, it's a big surprise and a shock," said Portillo.

Dr. Berto Lopez,  who works in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Good Samaritan Medical Center says, "The birth control pills that were recalled are branded as Lo-Ovral-28 and they are also branded as the generic which is Norgestrel and Ethinyl Estradiol. And specifically,  there are 14 branded and 14 non branded packs which affect about one million packets of pills."

The world's biggest drug maker says the recall is necessary because of an error, that mixed up the active and inactive pills in the 28-day package. Some packets were found to have too many pills with active ingredients, others were found to have too few. The company says this mix-up could raise the risk of unintended pregnancy.

Dr. Lopez says, "In addition to preventing pregnancies, birth control pills are frequently used for cycle control.

For people who have been prescribed Lo-Ovral the generic for Lo-Ovral that means that they need to check the lot number."

For more information visit the U.S Food and Drug Administr ation website.