About Plan B One-Step | Blue Ridge Women's Center

What is Plan B® One-Step, and how soon would I need to take it?
Plan B® One-Step is an emergency contraceptive ("morning-after pill") that may prevent pregnancy if it's taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex or contraceptive failure.[1] It's more likely to be effective the sooner it's taken [2], but its ability to prevent pregnancy also varies depending on where you are in your menstrual cycle when you take it.[3] It's sold over-the-counter for women 17 and older, but by prescription only for those under 17.
How effective is it?
The evidence varies on this. The manufacturer says it reduces the risk of pregnancy by about 88% [4], but other analysis suggests that its effectiveness may be significantly lower.[5]

How does it work?
When Plan B® One-Step prevents pregnancy, it seems to do so mainly by stopping ovulation (the release of an egg from the ovary). Because sperm can live in a woman's body for several days after she has sex, if she releases an egg during that time, she could get pregnant. Plan B® One-Step may also make it less likely that the sperm will reach the egg and fertilize it.[6]

The manufacturer indicates that Plan B® One-Step might also prevent implantation [7], keeping a fertilized egg from attaching to the uterine lining. This is still being debated by medical professionals. So far, the evidence seems to indicate that it works before fertilization (mainly by keeping the egg from being released) rather than afterward.[8]
Is Plan B® One-Step the same as RU-486, the abortion pill?
No. Plan B® One-Step uses a hormone called levonorgestrel mainly to prevent ovulation; RU-486 uses a drug called mifepristone to work against the hormones that would normally enable a pregnancy to continue. If you're already pregnant, it's too late for Plan B® One-Step.[9] Contact us for for free pregnancy verification or to discuss your options.

Does Plan B® One-Step offer any protection against sexually transmitted diseases?
No.[10] If you have had sex with someone who may have had other partners, or if you have been sexually assaulted, please seek STD testing. Early diagnosis and treatment of some STDs can reduce your risk of experiencing serious health consequences like pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility.[11]
What side effects am I likely to experience if I take Plan B® One-Step?
Side effects of Plan B® One-Step may include changes in your period, nausea, vomiting, lower abdominal pain, fatigue, headache, dizziness, and breast tenderness. If you vomit within two hours of taking Plan B® One-Step, contact your healthcare provider. If you have severe abdominal pain, seek immediate medical care in case you have an ectopic (tubal) pregnancy.[12]

How is Plan B® One-Step likely to change my menstrual cycle?
Plan B® One-Step may change your cycle so that your next period is earlier or later than you expected. It may also be lighter or heavier than usual. If your period is over a week late, you may want to take a pregnancy test to rule out the possibility of pregnancy.[13]
Who should avoid taking Plan B® One-Step?
Plan B® One-Step is not recommended for routine use or as a replacement for regular methods of birth control. You shouldn't take it if you are pregnant or if you are allergic to any of its ingredients.[14]
Is Plan B® One-Step available at Blue Ridge Women's Center?
No, it's not. If you have further questions about Plan B® One-Step, please consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Please note that any information provided by Blue Ridge Women's Center is for reference only and does not constitute professional advice, nor can it replace regular consultation with your physician or other appropriate professionals. By using this site or contacting us online, you are agreeing to this statement and to the Terms of Use for this site.

[1] Plan B One-Step Consumer: What is Plan B One-Step? (http://www.planbonestep.com/ description-plan-b.aspx, accessed 8/16/10).
[2] Ibid.
[3] See, for example, "Effectiveness of levonorgestrel emergency contraception given before or after ovulation—a pilot study" in Contraception, Feb. 2007 (http://www.contraceptionjournal.org/ article/PIIS0010782406003611/abstract, accessed 2/14/07).
[4]Plan B One-Step Consumer: What is Plan B One-Step? (http://www.planbonestep.com/ description-plan-b.aspx, accessed 8/16/10).
[5] See, for example, "Estimating the effectiveness of emergency contraceptive pills" in Contraception, Apr. 2003 (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db= PubMed&list_uids=12684144&dopt=Citation, accessed 2/14/07).
[6] See summary information in "Plan B and the Politics of Doubt" in JAMA, Oct. 11, 2006.
[7] Plan B One-Step Prescribers: How Plan B One-Step Works (http://www.planbonestep.com/ plan-b-prescribers/how-plan-b-works.aspx, accessed 8/16/10).
[8] See summary information in "Plan B and the Politics of Doubt" in JAMA, Oct. 11, 2006, and "Effectiveness of levonorgestrel emergency contraception given before or after ovulation—a pilot study" in Contraception, Feb. 2007 (http://www.contraceptionjournal.org/article/ PIIS0010782406003611/abstract, accessed 2/14/07).
[9] Plan B One-Step Consumer: What You Need To Know (http://www.planbonestep.com/full-story-what-know.aspx, accessed 8/16/10).
[10] Ibid.
[11] Pelvic Inflammatory Disease Fact Sheet from the Centers for Disease Control (http://www.cdc.gov/ std/PID/STDFact-PID.htm, accessed 1/4/07).
[12]Plan B One-Step Consumer: What You Need To Know (http://www.planbonestep.com/full-story-what-know.aspx, accessed 8/16/10).
[13]Plan B One-Step Prescribers: Side Effects and Tolerability (http://www.planbonestep.com/ plan-b-prescribers/side-effects.aspx, accessed 8/16/10).
[14]Plan B One-Step Consumer: What You Need To Know (http://www.planbonestep.com/full-story-what-know.aspx, accessed 8/16/10).

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