Q: What is Plan B?
A: Plan B is a morning after pill — a form of backup emergency contraception taken by a woman to reduce her chances of becoming pregnant if she has had unprotected sexual intercourse.
Plan B is not a routine birth control medication. Because it is used to prevent a pregnancy rather than terminate an existing one, Plan B is not the same as RU-486 (the "abortion pill"), which may be prescribed to terminate an early stage pregnancy. The Plan B morning after pill does not work if a woman is already pregnant, and it will not harm an existing pregnancy.
Q: How does Plan B work?
A: Like all post-coital or morning after pills, Plan B contains hormones that help to prevent pregnancy. Human conception typically does not happen instantly after intercourse. Sperm travels through the fallopian tube – sometimes for as long as several days – before fertilizing the egg. The time between intercourse and fertilization is what makes morning after pills like Plan B effective in preventing pregnancy.
Like most birth control pills, Plan B works either by preventing the ovary from releasing an egg or by preventing the sperm from fertilizing the egg. If fertilization has already occurred, then Plan B may stop the egg from attaching itself to the wall of the uterus.
Q: How is Plan B different from other birth control pills?
A: Most emergency contraceptives contain the hormones estrogen and progestin, which work either separately or in combination with one another. Unlike other birth control pills, Plan B does not contain estrogen. It contains levonorgestrel, a synthetic version of progestin. Plan B uses a larger dose of levonorgestrel than regular birth control pills.
Q: When is the Plan B morning after pill most effective?
A: The sooner Plan B is taken after vaginal intercourse, the better its chances of being effective. A single dose of Plan B contains two tablets. Take one pill as soon as possible after having unprotected sex, up to 72 hours later. Take the second pill twelve hours after you take the first pill. Taking the Plan B morning after pill as directed can reduce risk of getting pregnant by as much as 89%. That’s roughly 7 out of 8 women who might have gotten pregnant after having unprotected sex may be protected from pregnancy by Plan B.
Q: Are there any side effects associated with taking Plan B?
A: Plan B has been approved by the FDA as an effective emergency contraceptive method. Like any medication, however, the Plan B morning after pill can have side effects. Some of these side effects are similar to those of many other birth control pills, and can include:
- nausea
- abdominal pain
- fatigue
- dizziness
- headache
- heavy/light menstrual bleeding
- spotting or bleeding in between menstrual cycles
- periods that may begin earlier or later than usual
- breast tenderness
Q: Is Plan B a new birth control medication?
A: No. Plan B has been available as a morning after pill for more than eight years now. However, for some time it was available by prescription only. Now Plan B can be purchased from online pharmacies or over the counter at US drug stores by women over the age of 18.
Q: What else should women who are considering taking Plan B know?
A: Women considering the Plan B morning after pill should be aware of the following:
- Do not take Plan B to protect against sexually transmitted diseases like HIV.
- Like all morning after pills, Plan B does not help terminate a pregnancy, nor should it be used like regular birth control pills.
- Do not take Plan B if you are sensitive to the intake of hormones and in particular if you are allergic to levonorgestrel.
- Plan B should also be avoided if you have irregular vaginal bleeding that you have not consulted a physician about.
- Seek medical attention if you vomit either of the Plan B pills within one hour of taking them.
Q: How can I buy the Plan B morning after pill?
A: If you are at least 18 years old, you can buy Plan B over the counter provided you have proper age identification. Those under the age of 18 can purchase Plan B with a doctor’s prescription.
For more information on the Plan B morning after pill and other birth control topics, consult the online knowledge base at eDrugstore.md.
