Does Plan B Expire?

hamza_naem · March 25, 2022, 3:27pm

Does plan B expire? Plan B has a four-year expiry date. It is not hazardous to take expired Plan B, but it may be less effective in preventing pregnancy. To ensure the pill’s longevity, keep it away from damp, hot, or light settings. For further assistance, see Insider’s Health Reference library.
Plan B

What Exactly is Plan B?

Plan B is an emergency contraceptive method that prevents undesired pregnancies after sex with an unprotected partner. Plan B is most effective when used within 72 hours before conception and works by delaying ovulation.

Because plan B is most successful when used immediately after unprotected sex, some individuals keep it on hand. However, it is critical to remember that Plan B does expire.

Does Plan B Have an Expiration Date?

Plan B has a four-year expiration date, according to Melissa Sörgel, a registered pharmacist with OTC Beratung in Germany. After the expiry date, the manufacturer of Plan B is no longer accountable for any adverse effects or other problems.

“However, the medication is not fully useless beyond its expiry date,” Sörgel explains. "Although it may not be as effective as it once was. It is recommended that you do not consume an expired tablet to reduce the danger of pregnancy. "

The expiry date remains unchanged even if the tablet is opened but not used. However, even after opening, you should leave plan B in the original packaging to preserve the pill from light, which might destroy it, she warns.

Sörgel notes that other birth control methods, such as Ella, have a somewhat shorter shelf life of three years.

How to Store Your Plan B Safely?

If you purchase Plan B with the intention of using it later, it is critical to keep the pill carefully to prevent it disintegrating.

Plan B should be stored at room temperature, between 68 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit, according to Peace Nwegbo-Banks, MD, an OBGYN at Serenity Women’s Health & Med Spa.

Excessive heat might also be hazardous to the operation of Plan B. “Any heat retained within the container would accelerate the pace of pill breakdown and most likely cause them to crumble into powder, reducing the effective amount of the hormone included in the tablets,” explains Paula Anderson, MD, an OBGYN.

To securely store and assure the efficacy of plan B, you should:

Take cautious around light and heat. Keep Plan B in a medical cabinet or drawer that is not exposed to direct sunlight and has some ventilation, since these conditions may reduce the pill’s efficacy.
Consider relative humidity. It is better to avoid storing plan B in a bathroom, which often has greater humidity levels. “Plan B should not be exposed to excessive humidity,” Sörgel advises. “The medicine includes hormones and is therefore sensitive to moisture.”

What Makes this Different from Plan B-Related Bleeding?

After using Plan B, it is usual to have minor bleeding, or spotting. Generally, there is no cause for alarm if this occurs to you.

Spotting is a side effect of the additional hormones released by the EC pill. However, it might also be a symptom of early pregnancy, so keep track of your menstrual cycle and see a physician if you are uncertain.

Timing

Bleeding usually occurs within a few days after using Plan B. However, some individuals may never experience spotting.

Duration

It often lasts a day or two but may last longer. As with anything, the answer is unique to your body and cycle and the way Plan B’s hormones impact it.

Overall Characteristics

Spotting will not seem to be a genuine period. Rather than that, it is considerably paler, often showing as a few blood spots on toilet paper or in your underpants. The hue might range from pink to red to brown.

Additional Symptoms

Due to the fact that Plan B-related bleeding is distinct from your regular period, you are unlikely to suffer normal menstrual symptoms such as severe cramps.

It may, however, cause one or more Plan B side effects, such as

Diseases	Plan B Levonorgestrel N=977 (%)
Nausea	23.1
Abdominal Pain	17.6
Fatigue	16.9
Headache	16.8
Heavier Menstrual Bleeding	13.8
Lighter Menstrual Bleeding	12.5
Dizziness	11.2
Vomiting	5.6
Diarrhea	5.0

How to Use Mestrual Product

Due to the fact that the bleeding that may occur as a result of taking Plan B is often extremely mild, you will not need significant kinds of menstrual protection.

However, if you’re worried about it soaking through your underwear, try using a pantyliner.

How Else Would You Know Whether Plan B was Successful?

There is no way to determine if Plan B worked except to wait for your period.

Bear in mind that spotting or mild bleeding is not the same as period, and you may need to wait a few weeks to find out.

Why Does Plan B Have this Effect on Your Period?

Plan B prevents pregnancy by preventing the release of an egg with the use of a synthetic hormone called levonorgestrel.

While birth control pills include levonorgestrel, Plan B has a larger amount that may affect your body’s natural hormone levels.

The additional hormones may have an effect on the menstrual cycle, causing an earlier or later period, as well as more or lighter bleeding.

What if the Term Has Been Longer Than Anticipated and There is Still no Period?

It is natural for Plan B to cause your period to be delayed. However, if it arrives a week later than normal or does not appear within three weeks of using Plan B, you may be pregnant.

What Should You Do If you Believe it did not Work?

If used within 24 hours following relation, EC tablets containing levonorgestrel may lower the risk of pregnancy by 95%. This decreases to 88% if the pill is taken within 24 to 72 hours after relation.

In Short
If taken within 24 hours of a relationship, Plan B and levonorgestrel morning-after pills can reduce the likelihood of pregnancy by 95%. It’s possible that you’re pregnant if your period is a week late or if it doesn’t appear for three weeks after using Plan B.

Take a Pregnancy Test

If you keep track of your cycle and notice that your period is at least a week late, take one immediately.
However, if you are unsure about your menstrual cycle stage, wait three weeks after taking Plan B before utilising a pregnancy test.
Pregnancy tests look for a particular hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), which is generated just a few days after fertilisation. As a consequence, taking one too soon might yield an erroneous result.
Whether your test is negative, wait a few weeks further to see if your period arrives.
If it does not, repeat the pregnancy test and see a physician for guidance on delayed periods if the result remains negative.
If the test is positive, schedule an appointment with a physician. They’ll be able to confirm your pregnancy and discuss your choices, which include medicinal and surgical abortions.

How Do I use Plan B and Other Levonorgestrel Morning After-Pills?

As soon as possible after unprotected relationship, take levonorgestrel morning-after pills (such as Plan B One-Step, Take Action, My Way, AfterPill, Aftera, and EContra). Simply consume the medication normally. For further information, see the instructions included in the box.

These morning-after tablets are effective for up to five days after unprotected relationship, although they work best if taken within the first three days.

If you haven’t had your period within three weeks of using the morning-after pill, get a pregnancy test.

If you have taken ella within the past five days, do not take Plan B One-Step or any other levonorgestrel morning-after pill.

Is there any Harmful Effect to the Plan B Morning After-Pill?

Adverse reactions to Plan B are uncommon. There have been no major side effects reported from the millions of individuals who have taken it.

It is very natural for your next period to be different than usual after using the morning-after pill. It may arrive sooner or later, and may be heavier, lighter, or more sporadic. Alternatively, it might be the same as it is typically.

When you take the morning-after pill, you may have an upset stomach, lightheadedness or dizziness for a brief period. If you vomit within two hours of taking the tablet, it will be ineffective and you will need to retake it.

Where can I get the Plan B morning-after pill?

Without a prescription, you may get levonorgestrel morning-after pills (such as Plan B One-Step, Take Action, My Way, Option 2, Preventeza, AfterPill, My Choice, Aftera, and EContra) in drugstores and pharmacies. It makes no difference how old you are or what gender you are. Because the morning-after pill is often locked up or stored behind the counter, you may need to ask the pharmacist or shop clerk for assistance obtaining it – but you do not need a prescription or to show your identification.

Additionally, the morning-after pill is available through a number of family planning and health department clinics, as well as Planned Parenthood health centres.

How Much Does Plan B Cost?

Plan B Price

Plan B One-Step is typically between $40 and $50. Take Action, My Way, Option 2, Preventeza, My Choice, Aftera, and EContra are often less expensive – between $11 to $45. Additionally, a generic medication named AfterPill is available online for $20 + $5 delivery.

It makes no difference whether brand of EC you get or how much you spend – all brand-name and generic levonorgestrel morning-after pills perform equally effectively.

The morning-after pill may be available for free or at a reduced cost from a Planned Parenthood health centre, your county health department, or another family planning facility. Contact your local Planned Parenthood to see if they can assist you in obtaining affordable emergency contraception.

If you have health insurance or Medicaid, there is a strong possibility you may acquire Plan B for free – all you have to do is ask your nurse or doctor for a prescription so your health insurance will pay them (even though these sorts of morning-after pills are available without a prescription).

Additionally, the staff at your local Planned Parenthood health centre may assist you in determining if your health insurance will cover the morning-after pill. Continue reading to learn more about how to use health insurance to pay for emergency contraception.

Because the morning-after pill works better the sooner it is taken, it is wise to get it BEFORE you need it. You may store it in your medicine cabinet and it will always be available to you. That way, if an accident occurs, you may take it immediately and won’t have to worry about locating it at the store while you’re worried.

What Medicines Affect How Well Plan B works?

These medications or supplements may impair the effectiveness of Plan B and other levonorgestrel morning-after pills:

Rifampin (other antibiotics do not impair the effectiveness of Plan B).
The antifungal Griseofulvin (other antifungals do not impair the effectiveness of Plan B).
Several anti-seizure medications (these are sometimes also used to treat psychiatric disorders like bipolar disorder)
You may speak with a nurse, doctor, or pharmacist about any drugs you are already taking, and they can assist you in determining if Plan B is a viable choice for you.

The FDA’s Decision on Plan B

The FDA has received an application to change the status of Plan B from prescription to nonprescription. FDA officials evaluated the scientific evidence provided in the application, which included an actual usage study and a label comprehension study, among other things.
We convened a public advisory group with a panel of medical and scientific experts from outside the federal government on December 16, 2003. The members of the Advisory Committee on Nonprescription Drugs and the Advisory Committee on Reproductive Health met together to review the safety and efficacy evidence regarding Plan B nonprescription usage.
Although the committee recommended to the FDA that this product be sold without a prescription, several committee members, including the Chair, expressed reservations about the generalizability of the actual use data to the overall population of nonprescription users, owing primarily to insufficient sampling of younger age groups.
FDA sought further information from the sponsor on teenage usage after the advisory committee meeting. This supplementary material was submitted to the FDA in support of the sponsor’s pending application to convert Plan B from a prescription to an over-the-counter medicine.
This new information was sufficiently comprehensive to constitute a material modification to the NDA. Under the rules of the Prescription Drug User Fee Act’s (PDUFA) performance objectives, significant revisions such as this one may result in a 90-day extension of the PDUFA’s initial deadline.

Summary
It’s common to experience minimal bleeding or spotting after using Plan B. The increased hormones released by the EC pill cause spotting as a side effect.

Frequently Asked Questions

People usually ask many questions questions about Does plan B expire. A few of them are discussed below:

1. Is Plan B effective during ovulation?

It’s really fairly straightforward: No morning-after pill is effective during ovulation since they are intended to postpone it. If ovulation has already occurred, Plan B (or any other emergency contraceptive pill) will fail even before it begins.

2. How much time do I have before Plan B fails to work?

Plan B, My Way, and Next Choice, as well as other levonorgestrel morning-after pills, operate best when taken immediately after unprotected relationship. They are most effective up to three days (72 hours) after unprotected relationship. You may take them for up to 5 days (120 hours) after sex, however they lose their effectiveness significantly after day 5.

3. How long does a Plan B tablet last?

Use emergency contraception for up to five days after unprotected relationship. Plan B is more effective the sooner it is implemented. After three days, Plan B is not nearly as effective (72 hours). It is preferable to take ella as soon as possible.

4. How long after using Plan B is it possible to get pregnant?

When used within 24 hours following unprotected sex or a birth control mistake, the morning after pill is around 95% effective. Plan B One-efficacy Step’s declines to around 89 percent 72 hours after having sx. Plan B One-Step is only effective three days after having relationship.

5. Is the morning-after pill effective if he entered your body?

"Plan B is allowed by the FDA for usage up to 72 hours after unprotected sex. It is effective for up to 120 hours after relationship, but the longer it is used, the less effective it becomes "Nicole M., MD, is an OB-GYN at the University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine.

6. What factors contribute to the failure of Plan B?

One-dose emergency contraceptive tablets are effective in preventing conception around 50% to 100% of the time. Emergency contraceptive tablets might fail for a variety of reasons, including ovulation time, BMI, and medication interactions.

7. How can you tell whether Plan B was successful?

The only way to determine if Plan B was effective is to wait until your next period. If you are more than a week late with your period, you may want to consider a pregnancy test. Certain women may notice minor bleeding after using Plan B, which they may interpret as a sign that it was effective in preventing pregnancy.

8. Is a single sperm donation sufficient for pregnancy?

Fertilization of a woman’s egg requires just one sperm. Bear in mind, however, that for every sperm that makes its way to the egg, there are millions that do not. Each time male release, they discharge almost 100 million sperm on average.

9. How do men know when to withdraw?

Men who use the pull-out technique must be able to recognise when they have reached the stage of sexual intensity at which expulsion cannot be controlled or delayed. If you are unable to properly estimate this point, withdrawal will be ineffective.

10. What colour are normal sperm?

Semen that is in good health is often white or light grey in hue. Whether the colour of your sperm changes, you may question if there is anything wrong with your health. While yellow sperm is unlikely to cause concern, it might be a symptom of an underlying medical issue.

Conclusion
AfterPill, a generic medicine, is available online for $20 plus $5 shipping. An application has been submitted to the FDA to modify Plan B’s status from prescription to nonprescription. Some drugs in Plan B and other levonorgestrel morning-after pills may reduce its effectiveness. Any medications you’re currently taking can be discussed with a nurse, doctor, or pharmacist.