About Plan B | Blue Ridge Women's Center

What is Plan B®, and how soon would I need to take it?
Plan B® 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 within that time period, but its ability to prevent pregnancy varies depending on how soon after you have sex you take it [2] and on where you are in your cycle.[3] It's sold over-the-counter for women 18 and older, but by prescription only for those under 18.
How effective is it?
The evidence varies on this. The manufacturer claims that it can reduce the risk of pregnancy by as much as 89% [4], but recent analysis is suggesting that its effectiveness may actually be significantly lower.[5]

How does it work?
When Plan B® prevents pregnancy, it does 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® may also make it less likely that the sperm will reach the egg and fertilize it.[6]

The manufacturer suggests that Plan B® could also prevent implantation [7], keeping a fertilized egg from attaching to the uterus so that the pregnancy will succeed. 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® the same as RU-486, the abortion pill?
No. Plan B® 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®.[9] Contact us for for free pregnancy testing and verification or to discuss your options at this point.

Does Plan B® 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, you should 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 it?
Side effects of Plan B® may include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, tiredness, headache, dizziness, and breast tenderness. If you vomit within an hour of taking a Plan B® pill, you should contact your healthcare provider to see if you need to repeat that dose.[12]

What would it be likely to do to my menstrual cycle?
Plan B® 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®?
Plan B® is not recommended for routine use or as a replacement for regular methods of birth control. It's also not recommended for women who are pregnant, have undiagnosed vaginal bleeding, or are allergic to any of its ingredients.[14]
Is Plan B® available at Blue Ridge Women's Center?
No. If you have further questions about Plan B®, 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 Consumer Home Page (http://www.go2planb.com/ForConsumers/Index.aspx, accessed 2/14/07).
[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 Consumer Home Page (http://www.go2planb.com/ForConsumers/Index.aspx, accessed 2/14/07).
[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] How Plan B Works (http://www.go2planb.com/ForConsumers/AboutPlanB/ HowItWorks.aspx, accessed 2/14/07).
[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] Learn About Plan B (http://www.go2planb.com/ForPrescribers/About PlanB/faqs.aspx, accessed 2/27/07).
[10] Plan B Consumer Home Page (http://www.go2planb.com/ForConsumers/Index.aspx, accessed 2/14/07).
[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] See prescribing information (http://www.go2planb.com/PDF/PlanBPI.pdf).
[13] Ibid.
[14] Plan B Consumer Home Page (http://www.go2planb.com/ForConsumers/Index.aspx, accessed 2/14/07).

TOO LATE FOR PLAN B?
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or options counseling,
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call 362-4357.

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