Plan B Morning After Pill
January 23, 2008 | Leave a Comment
As with any emergency situation, it is good to have a back-up, which is where the birth control Plan B, or levonorgestrel, got its name. This pill is for use in the event that your regular birth control methods have failed, such as when you forget a pill, or a condom breaks.
Of course, not everyone feels Plan B is a “back-up” or anything resembling birth control because it potentially destroys a fertilized egg which would grow into a baby. You need to decide your own moral standing on the subject.
To help you make an informed decision, here is more information about Plan B:
It must be remembered though, that like any birth control product, Plan B does not protect against HIV, or sexually transmitted diseases. Nor is it the pill RU486, which is the abortion pill. Plan B will not help if you are already pregnant, which a woman can be, and not know it. But in emergency circumstances, Plan B will protect against pregnancy, approximately 89% of the time if taken within 72 hours of having sex.
Levonorgestrel is the same ingredient used in birth control pills, however, the amount in the Plan B pill is significantly higher, and Plan B contains no estrogen, so there is no increased risk of estrogen-related problems.
There are few if any side effects, which are mostly the same as those that may occur from taking birth control pills, including headaches, nausea, dizziness and breast tenderness. But if you should be nauseous to the point of vomiting soon after taking Plan B, you should contact your doctor to see if you need to take a second pill.
Ideally, Plan B works best taken as soon as possible after having sex. While it works within a 72-hour time frame, the sooner the levonorgestrel gets into your system, the better your prevention will be. If you are a forgetful person with your regular birth control pills, or are concerned that an accident may occur over a holiday or other time when your doctor is not available, discuss with them the possibility of having a prescription on hand, should you need to use it.
Click here to learn more about Plan B.