Took one out of date mini pill - how worried should I be?

[Ilikeviognier]

Just that. I worked out last night that I had managed to take one mini pill out of date by 6 months on Monday.

I then went back to the in date pack (the Monday pill I had to borrow from a different pack due to taking two by mistake ages ago).

I then had sex Wednesday Early evening.

I didn’t realise the Monday pill was out of date until late last night.

I’ve just taken Ella one.

How worried should I be here? Fuck.

I'm not sure I'd be that worried tbh.
Had you taken 2 in date pills by the time you had sex?

Yes- Tuesday and wed. But I had sex early evening on Wednesday.

In theory I could have ovulated by then right?

In which case the Ella one will do fuck all,

But even if you'd missed a pill you are covered again after 2 days of pill taking (applies to mini pill not combined pill) The out of date pill may have been less effective but then again it may have acted just the same as an in date pill

Medicines don't stop working when they reach the date.

Google 'do out of date medicines still work' and it's clear that they are usually fine for years after the entirely arbitrary date that serves little purpose except for stock control and to prevent things hanging around for decades.

Thanks yes I did read that. The pharmacist I just spoke to had other idea however and suggested I take Ella one. Which I’ve done, so I guess i can’t do much else now except hope.

To be honest OP I don't think I'd have bothered with the Ella One if it were me. You'd have to be extremely unlucky as the likelihood is that the out of date pill worked perfectly well, and in any case the chances of getting pregnant completely unprotected in any given month are only about 25%, even when trying to.

If I was a cynic I'd wonder if the pharmacist isn't meeting non-prescription targets during lockdown and jumped at the opportunity to sell you something?

Don't worry x

I’m 42 so tbh honest I’m hoping that my chances are lower than 25 percent in a normal cycle.

You may be right- the Ella one was 35 quid! That’s a lot for emergency contraception if you ask me! Especially when it may not work anyway!

Bump in case anyone else has any thoughts. Thanks all.

To be honest I wouldn't have worried at all about a pill being 6 months out of date when I took it, but I would be more concerned about taking Ella one while taking a progesterone containing pill. Current guidelines are that if you're on hormonal contraception you take levonelle as emergency contraception, and if you do take ellaone, you do not restart your contraceptive pill for 5 days after taking it as they bind to the same receptors and potentially reduce the efficacy of both medications

Hi yes I know. I’m not taking any more contraceptive pills from today. I can’t anyway as i only have out of date pills. I have to wait for the 5 days to be up to start a New pack.