The Morning-After Pill

(Emergency Contraception)

Make the best decision by educating yourself; it is good to know all of the facts before taking the Morning-After Pill. Your body and your health are important, so take time to make the best decision.  Please contact us for more information and confidential help.

What is the Morning-After Pill / Emergency Contraception?

Emergency contraception is any type of birth control used after unprotected intercourse or a known or suspected contraceptive failure (e.g. a broken condom).  The Morning-After Pill is any type of oral hormonal birth control taken after unprotected intercourse or a known or suspected contraceptive failure (e.g. a broken condom).  In the United States, Plan B® is the only FDA approved method currently available.

Is Plan B® effective?

Plan B® is reported to lower your chance of pregnancy by up to 89% i depending on which study is considered. It is administered in two tablets: the first must be taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex and the second 12 hours after the first tablet ii.

 

Should I Take the Morning-After Pill?

Many times women panic after having unprotected sex and rush to take the Morning-After Pill. However, women can only become pregnant on certain days of the month – around the time that you ovulate. Typically, there are only about three to five days a month in which pregnancy can occur. Many women take the Morning-After Pill during a time when they are not fertile meaning that they could not become pregnant. Taking the Morning-After Pill during a time when you cannot become pregnant needlessly exposes you to large doses of hormones.

How Does it Work?

The drug is believed to work in one of 3 ways iii :

It may prevent or delay ovulation (release of egg from ovary). It may affect the sperm and tube transport to prevent the egg from being fertilized.

It may alter the uterine lining which prevents the fertilized egg from implanting, resulting in an early abortion.

There is no way to know which way the drug is working in any one person.

i http://www.go2planb.com/section/prescribing_info/index.html

ii http://www.go2planb.com/ForConsumers/TakingPlanB/Default.aspx

iii http://www.go2planb.com/ForConsumers/AboutPlanB/HowItWorks.aspx