Taking Plan B at the appropriate time after unprotected intercourse can help prevent unwanted pregnancies. Show
How does Plan B work? | Efficacy | Contraindications | Interactions | How to tell if Plan B did not work | How long is Plan B effective? | Can pregnancy still occur? | Where to buy Plan B | FAQs Whether you forgot to take the pill or the condom broke, you still have an option for preventing pregnancy—but you have to act fast. Plan B One-Step is a morning-after pill that can prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex or birth control failure. Emergency contraception can offer peace of mind, but many women still wonder: how effective is Plan B? How does Plan B work?Plan B is a progesterone drug that contains the hormone levonorgestrel. Levonorgestrel prevents pregnancy in different ways, depending on where you are in your menstrual cycle. It can temporarily stop the release of an egg from an ovary (ovulation) or prevent the sperm and egg from joining together (fertilization). It may also alter the endometrium, so that a fertilized egg cannot implant in the uterus. Plan B works if taken within 72 hours after a regular birth control method fails or within 72 hours after unprotected intercourse. Once Plan B absorbs into the bloodstream, which usually takes a couple of hours, levonorgestrel starts to affect the ovaries or uterine lining. Although it’s rare, some women may throw up within two hours of taking a Plan B pill. If this happens to you, it’s best to follow up with your healthcare provider and ask whether or not you should take a second dose. You can take Plan B at any time during your cycle, but it’s only meant to be used as an emergency contraceptive pill. Because taking an emergency contraceptive affects your hormones, it can often cause side effects. Here are some of the most common side effects that women experience from Plan B:
If you’ve taken Plan B and start to experience severe lower abdominal pain three to five weeks after taking it, you should seek medical advice as soon as possible. Having this specific side effect in this timeframe may mean that you have an ectopic pregnancy, which is a pregnancy that happens outside the uterus. Ectopic pregnancies can be life-threatening, which is why it’s so important to talk to a healthcare professional right away if you experience this symptom. Plan B is a very effective emergency contraception pill. Plan B works well to prevent pregnancy within three days (72 hours) of an unprotected sex act, but is most effective (>97%) when taken within 24 hours of the incident, says Madeline Sutton, OB/GYN, a medical epidemiologist and former Commissioned Corps Officer at the CDC. A morning-after pill like Plan B can prevent pregnancy 75% to 89% of the time if you take it within three days of unprotected sex. Even though there’s no limit to how many times you can take Plan B, taking more than one dose per unprotected sex event won’t make it more effective. If you have unprotected sex again the day after taking Plan B, then you should take another dose. Take one pill for every act of unprotected sex, but remember that Plan B is not a substitute for regular birth control. Talk to your healthcare provider about the most appropriate form of birth control for you. Is there a Plan B weight limit?Some research suggests that emergency birth control containing levonorgestrel may be less effective in individuals with a higher BMI. But a 2017 review of four randomized trials found that women with a BMI over 30 had only a slightly higher risk of pregnancy than women overall (2% pregnancy rate vs. 1.2% pregnancy rate). These findings suggest that even among women with a higher BMI, Plan B still has a high chance of being effective when used correctly. Still, more research is needed. In the United States, there is no weight limit on the Plan B label. After conducting a review of the efficacy of levonorgestrel in women over 165 lbs or whose BMI was greater than 25, the FDA found no evidence to change the labeling. The FDA states that the most important factor is how quickly the medication is taken after unprotected sex or contraceptive failure—as quickly as possible within 72 hours—regardless of the woman’s weight, because it can be highly effective for women of any weight. However, for women with a higher body weight, these two forms of emergency contraception may be more effective:
Who should not take Plan B?Even though Plan B is very effective, it isn’t right for everyone and is less effective under the following circumstances:
If you have a BMI that’s 30 or greater, a copper IUD such as Paragard, hormonal IUD Mirena or Liletta, or the Ella morning-after pill may be better options for you. An IUD is almost 99.9% effective at preventing pregnancy if it is put in within five days after unprotected sex. Once inserted, the Paragard IUD can prevent pregnancy for up to 12 years. Mirena can prevent pregnancy for up to 7 years, and Liletta can prevent pregnancy for up to 6 years. Ella emergency contraception works to prevent pregnancy up to five days after sex and lowers the risk of pregnancy by about 85%. However, you should not take Plan B or other morning-after pills containing levonorgestrel if you have taken Ella since your last period. If you took Ella and need to take another morning-after pill within 5 days, take Ella again (as opposed to Plan B or another morning-after pill). Note: Unlike the Plan B pill, the Ella morning-after pill requires a prescription from a doctor to obtain. The Paragard IUD and hormonal IUDs are available by prescription and through your doctor or family planning clinic. You’ll need your OB/Gyn to insert the IUD, so if you decide to go that route, call them ASAP and explain the situation so they can bring you in quickly to insert the IUD. Plan B interactionsCertain medications and herbs may decrease the effectiveness of Plan B because they contain enzymes that reduce the concentration of progestins in the blood. Examples of such medicines and herbal products that may interact with Plan B include:
Plan B does not prevent STDsAnother thing to be aware of is that Plan B doesn’t protect against sexually transmitted infections. The only way to protect yourself from HIV/AIDS, genital herpes, chlamydia, hepatitis, or other STDs is to correctly and consistently use latex condoms or practice abstinence. Some vaccines can prevent hepatitis B and HPV but will not protect against other STDs. The CDC recommends that children get their first dose of the HPV vaccine at age 11 to 12 (but can start as early as age 9 years), but the vaccine is also recommended for everyone up to age 26 (and certain adults ages 27 to 45 years, depending on risk) if they haven’t been vaccinated. How do you know if Plan B didn’t work?The only way to know if Plan B has prevented pregnancy is to wait for your next period. If your period arrives more than a week late, that may mean Plan B did not work. However, Plan B may delay menses. Therefore, you may want to consider taking a pregnancy test. Some women will experience light bleeding after taking Plan B and may take this as a sign that it’s worked to prevent pregnancy. BUT, spotting is an expected side effect of the morning-after pill and isn’t an indication that it has or has not prevented pregnancy. Getting your period and/or a negative pregnancy test is the only way to know for sure. Consult your healthcare provider with any questions and for medical advice. How long is Plan B effective?It’s best to take Plan B as soon as possible, since it works best within the first three days. You can take Plan B up to five days after unprotected sex, but it won’t work as well by the fifth day. It’s best to take it as soon as possible, preferably by the third day after unprotected sex, so it has the best chance of working. Once Plan B is ingested, it’s only effective for a maximum of about five days. After this amount of time, the hormones that were in the pill will have left the body. The maximum amount of time that Plan B stays in the body coincides with the amount of time that sperm can live inside the female reproductive tract—about five to six days. Bottom line—You can still get pregnant after taking Plan BIt’s important to note that you can still get pregnant even after taking Plan B. Also, if you take Plan B after unprotected sex and then have unprotected sex again, you’ll need to take another pill. A long-term form of birth control is the best way to prevent pregnancy. Long-term birth control options include the birth control pill, IUDs, implants, shots, patches, latex condoms, and vaginal rings. For birth control to work, it must be used exactly as directed. If you skip birth control pills, for example, they will not be as effective as preventing pregnancy. And for certain forms of birth control, like condoms, they must be used every time you have sex to prevent pregnancy. Where to buy Plan BAdults can buy Plan B One-Step over-the-counter without a prescription at most drugstores and pharmacies. You can also get it from family planning centers or health department clinics. Unfortunately, Plan B can be quite expensive at about $38 to $58 per pill. Most insurance companies will cover the cost of Plan B if a healthcare provider prescribes it as an emergency contraceptive. If you’re not able to get a prescription to cover the cost of Plan B, you may be able to get it for free or at a lower price from Planned Parenthood. Another way to save money on the morning-after pill is SingleCare’s drug coupon. To use the SingleCare discount, you’ll need a prescription from your doctor. These coupons could give you discounts of up to 80% off. SingleCare not only offers discounts on Plan B but other forms of birth control too. Learn how to find free birth control without health insurance here. Frequently asked questions about Plan BIs Plan B a morning-after pill?Plan B is one type of morning-after pill. It is not used for regular birth control. Plan B contains the ingredient levonorgestrel, and can prevent pregnancy in the event of unprotected sex. To be most effective, Plan B should be taken as soon as possible after unprotected sex, preferably within 3 days (72 hours), but can be taken up to 5 days after unprotected sex. The sooner it is taken, the better chance that it will prevent pregnancy. If you are already ovulating, Plan B will not work. Can you buy Plan B over-the-counter?Yes. You can buy morning-after pills like Plan B over the counter at pharmacies. No prescription or identification is required. If you don’t see it on the shelf, you can ask the pharmacist or pharmacy staff, because it may be kept behind the counter. If it is kept behind the counter, you still won’t need a prescription. You can also find Plan B at various family planning or health department clinics or Planned Parenthood. You can also check the Plan B website to find locations in your area where you can purchase Plan B. What makes Plan B less effective?Things that make Plan B less effective include:
Which is better, Plan B or Ella?Ella contains the ingredient ulipristal and is considered to be more effective than Plan B and other emergency contraception that contains the ingredient levonorgestrel. Ella requires a prescription, while Plan B does not. However, what’s most important is taking the emergency contraception as quickly as possible after unprotected sex. So, for example, if it is Friday night and you can’t get in touch with your doctor, it’s best to buy OTC Plan B and take it as soon as possible, rather than wait a few days until you can speak to your doctor to request a prescription for Ella. Better yet, plan ahead. Speak to your doctor at your next visit about which would be the best emergency contraception for you. If your doctor thinks Ella would be better, have them call in a prescription to your pharmacy so you can fill it right away and have it on hand. If your doctor thinks Plan B would be better for you, you can pick it up on your next trip to the pharmacy to keep on hand. Is Plan B an abortion pill?Plan B is not an abortion pill and will not end a pregnancy if you’re already pregnant. If you’ve accidentally taken Plan B after you’re already pregnant, it’s good to know that there is no evidence to suggest that it’s harmful to developing babies. If Plan B doesn’t work and you become pregnant, it’s unlikely that it will cause harm to you or your baby. Talking with your healthcare provider is the best way to learn about family planning methods that will work best for you. Will Plan B affect getting pregnant in the future?You can use Plan B with confidence that it will not affect future fertility. The World Health Organization reports that using hormonal birth control, including emergency contraception like Plan B, does not affect future fertility. These hormones leave the body in several days, and pregnancy can occur from future sexual intercourse. What happens if you take Plan B before your period?It causes a change in hormone levels, which can affect the usual pattern of your menstrual cycle. This can lead to spotting between the time you take it and the beginning of your next period. It can also cause your period to start up to a week earlier or a week later than you would otherwise expect.
Can taking Plan B right before your period delay it?Emergency contraception can delay your period. In fact, getting your period later or earlier than usual is one of the most common side effects of emergency contraception pills like Plan B and ella.
Can I still get pregnant after taking the Plan B 3 days before my period?The short answer is yes. How effective Plan B is depends not only on how soon after unprotected sex you take it but also where you are in your cycle. For instance, if ovulation has already occurred (within 24 hours), EC may be less effective. This is one case where you can still get pregnant after taking Plan B.
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Taking plan b 3 days before period
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