Forgetting to take a daily birth control pill is easy to do, especially when your life is hectic or unpredictable. But what happens if you have unprotected sex after you’ve missed a pill? Fortunately, there are emergency contraceptives, like Plan B, which have been shown to be an effective way to prevent unwanted pregnancies when your birth control method fails — or if you don’t use one at all.
With the fate of Roe v. Wade up in the air, this has been on people’s minds more than ever.
Let’s get one thing straight, right off the bat: Plan B is not an abortion pill. It cannot end a current pregnancy. What it can do is prevent a pregnancy from happening at all.
We’ll explain how Plan B works, when you should (and shouldn’t) take it and how to get it.
What is the Plan B pill?
Plan B is the brand name for levonorgestrel, a synthetic form of the hormone progestin that temporarily delays ovulation — when an egg is released from the ovary. By delaying ovulation, the pill keeps sperm from fertilizing an egg and thus prevents pregnancy after unprotected sex. The pill won’t affect your ability to get pregnant in the future, according to Plan B One-Step’s website.
It is an over-the-counter emergency contraceptive pill that’s also called the “morning after pill” because people often take it the day after having unprotected sex.
Note that Plan B is often used as a catch-all term for all emergency contraception, but there are emergency contraceptive pills other than Plan B, such as Ella. However, Ella requires a prescription and cannot be bought over the counter. Ella contains ulipristal acetate, a progesterone agonist that temporarily delays ovulation and can be taken up to five days after unprotected sex. It’s also said to work better than Plan B for those who weigh more than 165 pounds.
How soon should you take Plan B after unprotected sex?
If you had sex and didn’t use birth control, including pills or condoms, it’s recommended that you take Plan B within 72 hours. The sooner you can take it, the better it works.
You can also take it to prevent an unplanned pregnancy if you missed a dose of your birth control pill or if there was an issue with the form of birth control you used — if, for instance, the condom broke.
You can use Plan B’s countdown calculator to determine if you’re still in the time frame that it would be effective at preventing pregnancy.
How effective is Plan B?
One package of Plan B comes with one pill.
Plan B One-Step
When Plan B is used within the 72-hour timeframe, it can significantly decrease the chances of getting pregnant. Roughly seven out of every eight people — or nearly 88% — who could have become pregnant didn’t do so after taking it.
“Use this intervention as soon as possible after a sexual relationship in which pregnancy is possible,” Dr. Gloria Bachmann, director of the Women’s Health Institute at Rutgers University, told CNET.
After 72 hours the effectiveness decreases, although you can take the pill up to five days after unprotected sex.
Also, Plan B may be less effective in people who weigh more than 165 pounds. Other emergency contraception pills, like Ella, may also be less effective for those who weigh 195 pounds or more.
Bachmann recommends women who weigh more than 165 pounds ask their clinician for alternatives if they’re concerned that levonorgestrel is less effective for them.
However, research is unclear on whether or how much weight influences the effectiveness of emergency contraceptives. It’s still worth taking a dose if you need one, regardless of your weight.
What Plan B shouldn’t be used for
While Plan B is effective in minimizing the chance of becoming pregnant, there are a few things it shouldn’t be used for, according to Plan B’s manufacturer.
Don’t use Plan B in place of your regular birth control because it only stays in your system for a short amount of time. Continue using your regular birth control after taking Plan B.
Don’t take Plan B when you’re pregnant. The manufacturer notes that it’s not an abortion pill and will not affect an existing pregnancy.
Don’t use Plan B to try to prevent sexually transmitted diseases. Plan B can only help to prevent pregnancy, so it’s best to use barrier methods, like condoms, for preventing STDs.
How to get a Plan B pill
Plan B is available over the counter in stores and online at major retailers, like CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Target, Amazon and Rite Aid. You can also buy it from the Plan B website. You don’t need to show an ID or have a prescription.
It costs roughly $40 to $50 for one pill, depending on where you buy it from. Some insurance plans may cover emergency contraceptives, so we recommend contacting your insurance company for more details. If your plan doesn’t cover it, a pharmacist may be able to tell you why.
If you don’t have insurance or your plan doesn’t cover Plan B, you may be able to get it free or at reduced cost from your local health department, Planned Parenthood or other health clinics.
Who can use Plan B?
Anyone who can become pregnant is eligible to take Plan B, regardless of their age. But there’s some research that shows it may be less effective for some people.
The Food and Drug Administration said in 2016 that all people who ovulate, regardless of how much they weigh, can use emergency contraceptives like Plan B to prevent pregnancy. However, some CDC studies show that it may not be as effective for people who have a BMI of 30 or higher, or who weigh 165 pounds or more. At this time, there’s still not enough research to show if weight impacts the effectiveness of Plan B.
There are medications that can disrupt how well the morning-after pill works, including the antibiotic Rifampin, the antifungal Griseofulvin, some HIV medicines, some anti-seizure medicines and St. John’s wort. Bachmann said people who use barbiturates — depressant drugs prescribed by doctors or purchased illegally — should not take a levonorgestrel pill.
If you’re taking any of those drugs, consult your doctor before using Plan B.
What are the side effects of Plan B?
Plan B is considered safe to use, but there are some side effects you may experience:
- Your period could be lighter, heavier, earlier or later than usual
- Nausea
- Lower abdominal cramps
- Tiredness
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Breast tenderness
- Vomiting — if this happens within two hours, contact your health care provider to see if another dose is necessary.
The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.