Is it safe to take expired Plan B (levonorgestrel)?

From the Guidelines

It is not recommended to take expired Plan B (levonorgestrel) emergency contraception. For maximum effectiveness, you should use Plan B before its expiration date. The active ingredient in Plan B may degrade over time, potentially reducing its ability to prevent pregnancy. Plan B works by temporarily stopping the release of an egg from the ovary, preventing fertilization, or preventing a fertilized egg from attaching to the uterus. When expired, these mechanisms may be compromised.

According to the study published in Pediatrics 1, levonorgestrel EC is preferred to the Yuzpe regimen because of the superior adverse effect profile and effectiveness, which is up to 85%. However, the effectiveness of levonorgestrel may be reduced if taken after the expiration date.

If you have expired Plan B, the best course of action is to purchase a new, unexpired package from a pharmacy. Plan B is available over-the-counter without a prescription regardless of age. If you need emergency contraception and only have expired Plan B, contact a healthcare provider immediately for guidance, as there may be other emergency contraception options available to you within the necessary timeframe (ideally within 72 hours of unprotected sex, though it can be used up to 5 days after). The U.S. selected practice recommendations for contraceptive use, 2013, also suggest that ulipristal acetate (UPA) and levonorgestrel ECPs have similar effectiveness when taken within 3 days after unprotected sexual intercourse, but UPA has been shown to be more effective than the levonorgestrel formulation 3–5 days after unprotected sexual intercourse 1.

Some key points to consider:

• The effectiveness of Plan B may be reduced if taken after the expiration date
• Levonorgestrel EC is preferred to the Yuzpe regimen because of the superior adverse effect profile and effectiveness
• UPA and levonorgestrel ECPs have similar effectiveness when taken within 3 days after unprotected sexual intercourse
• If you need emergency contraception and only have expired Plan B, contact a healthcare provider immediately for guidance.

From the Research

Emergency Contraception Options

• The provided studies discuss various emergency contraception options, including levonorgestrel (LNG), ulipristal acetate (UPA), and the copper intrauterine device (IUD) 2, 3, 4, 5.
• However, none of the studies directly address the issue of taking expired Plan B.

Effectiveness and Safety of Emergency Contraception

• The studies suggest that emergency contraceptive pills, such as LNG and UPA, are safe and well-tolerated 2, 3.
• The effectiveness of these pills can be affected by factors such as obesity and timing of use 2, 3.
• The copper IUD is considered the most effective method of emergency contraception, but its use is not directly related to the question of taking expired Plan B 2, 4, 5.

Conclusion on Expired Plan B

• There are no research papers provided that directly assist in answering the question of whether it is okay to take expired Plan B.
• The studies focus on the effectiveness, safety, and use of various emergency contraception options, but do not address the issue of expiration dates 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.