What are the brown pills in birth control?

Reviewed by Yoshinori Abe, MD

Internal Medicine

Brown pills in birth control packs are typically placebo (inactive) pills that contain no hormones. Their purpose is to help you maintain the daily habit of taking a pill, making it easier to stay on schedule. During the week you take these placebo pills, you'll usually experience a withdrawal bleed, similar to a period. Some brands include iron or other supplements in these pills, but they do not provide contraceptive protection—the hormonal pills earlier in the pack do that work.

If you're experiencing unusual symptoms, side effects, or have concerns about your birth control, it's worth getting clarity quickly. Take a free, instant, online symptom check to better understand what may be going on and help you confidently navigate your next steps.

Reviewed for medical accuracy: 07/20/2026

Important Next Steps

Learn if brown pills are normal Discover why your pills changed color Find out what brown pills mean See OTC options for side effects Find a doctor for birth control Understand safe home remedies for symptoms Check if brown pills need care

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Explanation

The brown pills in a birth control pack are typically placebo pills, meaning they do not contain active hormones. These pills are included in the pack to help maintain a routine of taking a pill every day, even during the days when you are not taking the active hormonal pills.

Purpose of Brown Pills:

Routine Maintenance: Keeping the habit of taking a pill daily is important to ensure effectiveness when taking active pills.
Menstrual Cycle Regulation: During the placebo week, you may have a menstrual-like bleed, which is not a true period but a withdrawal bleed from the lack of hormones.

If you're experiencing unexpected symptoms or changes during your placebo week, try Ubie's free AI-powered symptom checker to better understand what might be happening with your body.

(References)

Iyer V, Farquhar C, & Jepson R. (2000). Oral contraceptive pills for heavy menstrual bleeding. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 10796696.
Brown LR. (1987). The people yet to come; avoiding the demographic trap. Development international, 12341670.

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