Hey Dr Sue — How Many Plan B’s Can You Take Before It Becomes Ineffective Or Harms Your Body?

The simple answer is there is no number.

Plan B will not harm your body. It contains the hormone levonorgestrel, which is a type of progestin. Progestin is a synthetic version of progesterone, which is a hormone produced by the ovaries.

Progestin will not harm your body.

Plan B’s effectiveness is not impacted by how many times you take it, but rather how long you wait to take it after unprotected vaginal intercourse.

While Plan B can be used for up to 5 days after vaginal intercourse, it’s most effective if you take it in the first 24 hours. After that its effectiveness starts to drop, so take it as soon as possible.

If you think you might need it, I suggest having some Plan B (or other emergency contraceptive pill) on hand. Emergency contraception has a shelf life of a few years, so it might be easier for you to lay out the money now to have it on hand and know it’s there, than to have to figure out how to get it when you suddenly realize you need it.

Keep in mind that Plan B is not the only emergency contraceptive option that’s available over the counter. There are other brands, some generic, that are often cheaper if price is a concern.