Why are there placebo pills in birth control?

Reviewed by Yoshinori Abe, MD

Internal Medicine

Placebo pills in birth control packs contain no active hormones. Their primary purpose is to help you maintain a consistent daily routine, making it easier to remember to take your pill each day. They also allow for a scheduled withdrawal bleed, which mimics a natural menstrual cycle. Skipping placebo pills does not reduce the contraceptive effectiveness of your birth control.

If you're experiencing unusual symptoms, side effects, or changes in your cycle while on birth control, it's important to understand what's happening in your body. Guessing can lead to unnecessary worry or delayed care. Take a free, instant, online symptom check to get personalized insights and clear guidance on your next steps—no signup required.

Reviewed for medical accuracy: 07/20/2026

Important Next Steps

Discover why your birth control changed See if placebo pills matter Learn what causes breakthrough bleeding Find OTC relief for cramps Find a gynecologist for birth control Discover safe home remedies for side effects Understand if symptoms need care now

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Explanation

Placebo pills in birth control packs are included to help women keep a consistent daily routine of taking a pill, which can aid in remembering to take the active pills. According to the provided references, the placebo pills do not contain hormones and are typically taken during the last week of the cycle. This allows for a withdrawal bleed, which mimics a natural menstrual period but is not necessary for the effectiveness of the birth control.

Routine Maintenance: Taking a pill daily, even if it's a placebo, helps maintain the habit, reducing the risk of missing active pills.
Mimicking Natural Cycle: The withdrawal bleed during the placebo week can provide reassurance of not being pregnant, even though it's not a real period. If you're experiencing unusual symptoms or have concerns about your birth control, you can use Ubie's free AI symptom checker to better understand what might be happening.
Alternative Schedules: Some studies suggest eliminating the placebo week can reduce certain side effects, but this is not the standard practice for all users.

Overall, the placebo pills serve more of a psychological and routine purpose rather than a medical necessity.

(References)

Nelson AL. (2007). Extended-cycle oral contraceptive pills with 10 microg .... Women's health (London, England), 19804029.
Sulak P, Willis S, Kuehl T, Coffee A, & Clark J. (2007). impact of eliminating the standard 7-day placebo interval. Headache, 17355491.
De Leo V, Scolaro V, Musacchio MC, Di Sabatino A, Morgante G, & Cianci A. (2011). Combined oral contraceptives in women with menstrual .... Fertility and sterility, 21843889.

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