Morning-After Pill
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).
Is Plan B® Effective?
Plan B® is reported to reduce the chance of pregnancy by 60-94%i,
depending on which study is considered. It is important to note that
these figures are based on estimates of when ovulation may have
occurred and not on actual pregnancy rates.
How is Plan B® Administered?
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 tabletii.
Is Plan B® One-Step Effective?
One study conducted by Plan B® One-Step found that 84% of expected pregnancies were preventediii. The makers of the drug claim that 7 out of 8 women who would have gotten pregnant, did notiv. These figures are based on estimates of when ovulation might have occurred.
How is Plan B® One-Step Administered?
Plan B® One-Step is administered in one tablet and must be taken within 72 hours of unprotected sexv.
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?
Plan B®vi and Plan B® One-Stepvii are believed to work in one of 3 ways:
- 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.
Can the Morning-After Pill Cause An Abortion?
That depends upon how you define "life". The scientific reality is
that the instant a human egg and sperm unite (fertilization), the newly
formed being contains the full complement of DNA in which hair and eye
color, gender and all the other physical characteristics are
determined. During its journey down the fallopian tube, the fertilized
egg is actively growing and dividing. It will then implant in the
uterine lining where it will continue to grow.
A number of years ago, some in the medical community arbitrarily
decided to redefine the beginning of pregnancy as when implantation
occurs. Clearly, this contradicts the know facts about when life itself
begins, and that is at fertilization. So, one of the ways that Plan B®
may work is to alter the uterine lining so that a fertilized egg may
not be able to implant and growviii. Taking Plan B® after
the sperm has fertilized the egg, may interfere with the fertilized
egg's implantation in the uterus which some would consider a very early
abortion.
Will it have an Effect on my Period?
It is possible that Plan B® One-Step will effect your period and
your cycle. The most common adverse reaction is heavier menstrual
bleedingix. If your period is delayed for more than one week, pregnancy should be consideredx. Following use of Plan B® One-Step, rapid return of fertility is likelyxi.
Should I see a Doctor?
It may be indicated to have a medical examination after taking Plan B® One-Step.
Does the Morning-After Pill have Side Effects?
Plan B® includes side effects such as nausea, abdominal pain,
fatigue, headache, heavier menstrual bleeding, lighter menstrual
bleeding, and dizzinessxii.
Plan B® One-Stepxiii includes side effects such as
heavier menstrual bleeding, nausea, lower abdominal pain, fatigue,
headache, dizziness, breast tenderness, and delay of period.
Does the Morning-After Pill have Risks?
- Forms of the Morning-After Pill that contain the hormone estrogen
carry the potential risks associate with that drug. These include:
blood clots, stroke, and heart attack.
- There is some evidence that the Morning-After Pill may put a woman
at increased risk for an ectopic pregnancy (a pregnancy occurring
outside the uterus)xiv.
It is very important to be aware of the signs and symptoms of an
ectopic pregnancy because it can be life-threatening. Women who have an
ectopic pregnancy may experience, irregular vaginal bleeding, abdominal
and/or pelvic pain and cramps, shoulder pain and dizzinessxv.
Many of these symptoms are similar to the potential side effects
associated with the use of the Morning-After Pill. It is critical that
anyone who has these symptoms be evaluated by a physician.
Could I Already Be Pregnant?
Yes. If you are routinely having sex, you may already be pregnant
from an earlier sexual encounter. This is why taking a pregnancy test
before considering Plan B® or Plan B® One-Step makes sense. Women who
have a known or suspected pregnancy should not take the pills,
according the manufacturers of Plan B®xvi and Plan B® One-Stepxvii. Please call us for a free and confidential pregnancy test.
Is the Morning-After Pill Right for Someone my Age?
It is unknown whether or not Plan B® and Plan B® One-Step are safe
and effective for women under the age of 17. The makers of the drugs
say they are "expected" to be safe and effective for users under the
age of 17xviii.
What is Unknown about Plan B® and Plan B® One-Step?
There is much that is unknown about the drug such as:
- Its effect on women 16 and underxix,xx
- Its effects when interacting with other drugsxxi,xxii
- Its effects on women with medical conditionsxxiii,xxiv
- Effects of women's ovulation and fertilityxxv
- Effects on fetal growth and developmentxxvi,xxvii
Additionally, Plan B® and Plan B® One-Step are not recommended for routine usexxviii,xxix,
but the makers of Plan B® have not defined what they consider to be
"routine". There has not been any research on drug abuse and dependence
on Plan B®xxx or Plan B® One-Stepxxxi. There is also no information on overdose of Plan B®xxxii or Plan B® One-Stepxxxiii.
Will the Morning-After Pill Protect Against Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Infections?
The Morning-After Pill does not prevent the spread of STDs/STIsxxxiv.
Our center cares about you and we are here to help. We have a lot of
information on the Morning-After Pill, but we do not refer for or
prescribe it. We want to assist you as you sort through the concerns
you may have about sexual activity. Please call us for more information
on the Morning-After Pill, Plan B®, and Plan B® One-Step.
Generic versions of Plan B® are available and are presumed to work similarly to Plan B®.
This information is intended
for general education purposes only and should not be relied upon as a
substitute for professional medical advice.
i ACOG Practice Bulletin No. 69. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Obstet Gynecol 2005; 106:1443-52.
ii Physician's Desk Reference: 2006; Plan B®;p. 1068-69; prescribing information.
iii Plan B® One-Step package insert. "Clinical Studies." Package insert available at: http://www.planbonestep.com/pdf/PlanBOneStepFullProductInformation.pdf. (Accessed September 3, 2009)
iv Plan B® One-Step Website. "What Plan B® One-Step is." http://www.planbonestep.com/what-is-plan-b.aspx. (Accessed September 3, 2009)
v Plan B® One-Step package insert. "Dosage andAdministration." Package insert available at:
vi Physician's Desk Reference: 2006; Plan B®;p. 1068-69; prescribing information.
vii Plan B® One-Step Website. "How Plan B® One-Step Works (Prescribers)." http://www.planbonestep.com/plan-b-prescribers/how-plan-b-works.aspx. (Accessed September 3, 2009)
viii FDA website, "Plan B® Questions and Answers:
How Does Plan B® Work."
http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/PostmarketDrugSafetyInformationforPatientsandProviders/ucm109783.htm.
(Accessed September 3, 2009)
ix Plan B® One-Step package insert. "Adverse Reactions." Package insert available at: http://www.planbonestep.com/pdf/PlanBOneStepFullProductInformation.pdf. (Accessed September 3, 2009)
x Plan B® One-Step package insert. "Warnings and Precautions." Package insert available at: http://www.planbonestep.com/pdf/PlanBOneStepFullProductInformation.pdf. (Accessed September 3, 2009)
xi Plan B® package insert. "Fertility Following Discontinuation." Package insert available at: http://www.planbonestep.com/pdf/PlanBPI.pdf. (Accessed September 3, 2009)
xii Plan B® package insert. "Adverse Reactions." Package insert available at: http://www.planbonestep.com/pdf/PlanBPI.pdf. (Accessed September 3, 2009)
xiii Plan B® One-Step package insert. "Adverse Reactions." Package insert available at: http://www.planbonestep.com/pdf/PlanBOneStepFullProductInformation.pdf. (Accessed September 3, 2009)
xiv Plan B® package insert. "Ectopic Pregnancy." Package insert available at: http://www.planbonestep.com/pdf/PlanBPI.pdf. (Accessed September 3, 2009)
xv ACOG Patient Education
Pamphlet Ectopic Pregnancy; Copyright© April 2002 by the American
College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
xvi Plan B® package insert. "Dosage and Administration." Package insert available at: http://www.planbonestep.com/pdf/PlanBPI.pdf. (Accessed September 3, 2009)
xvii Plan B® One-Step package insert. "Contraindications." Package insert available at: http://www.planbonestep.com/pdf/PlanBOneStepFullProductInformation.pdf. (Accessed September 3, 2009)
xviii Plan B® package insert. "Pediatric Use." Package insert available at: http://www.planbonestep.com/pdf/PlanBPI.pdf. (Accessed September 3, 2009)
xix Plan B® package insert. "Pediatric Use." Package insert available at: http://www.planbonestep.com/pdf/PlanBPI.pdf. (Accessed September 3, 2009)
xx Plan B® One-Step package insert. "Pediatric Use." Package insert available at: http://www.planbonestep.com/pdf/PlanBOneStepFullProductInformation.pdf. (Accessed September 3, 2009)
xxi Plan B® package insert. "Drug-Drug Interactions." Package insert available at: http://www.planbonestep.com/pdf/PlanBPI.pdf. (Accessed September 3, 2009)
xxii Plan B® One-Step package insert. "Drug-Drug Interactions." Package insert available at: http://www.planbonestep.com/pdf/PlanBOneStepFullProductInformation.pdf. (Accessed September 3, 2009)
xxiii Plan B® package insert. "Carbohydrate Metabolism." Package insert available at: http://www.planbonestep.com/pdf/PlanBPI.pdf. (Accessed September 3, 2009)
xxiv Plan B® One-Step package insert. "Hepatic Impairment." Package insert available at: http://www.planbonestep.com/pdf/PlanBOneStepFullProductInformation.pdf. (Accessed September 3, 2009)
xxv Plan B® package insert. "Fertility Following Discontinuation." Package insert available at: http://www.planbonestep.com/pdf/PlanBPI.pdf. (Accessed September 3, 2009)
xxvi Plan B® package insert. "Pregnancy." Package insert available at: http://www.planbonestep.com/pdf/PlanBPI.pdf. (Accessed September 3, 2009)
xxvii Plan B® One-Step package insert. "Pregnancy." Package insert available at: http://www.planbonestep.com/pdf/PlanBOneStepFullProductInformation.pdf. (Accessed September 3, 2009)
xxviii Plan B® package insert. "Warnings." Package insert available at: http://www.planbonestep.com/pdf/PlanBPI.pdf. (Accessed September 3, 2009)
xxix Plan B® One-Step package insert. "Indications and Usage." Package insert available at: http://www.planbonestep.com/pdf/PlanBOneStepFullProductInformation.pdf. (Accessed September 3, 2009)
xxx Plan B® package insert. "Drug Abuse and Dependence." Package insert available at: http://www.planbonestep.com/pdf/PlanBPI.pdf. (Accessed September 3, 2009)
xxxi Plan B® One-Step package insert. "Drug Abuse and Dependence." Package insert available at: http://www.planbonestep.com/pdf/PlanBOneStepFullProductInformation.pdf. (Accessed September 3, 2009)
xxxii Plan B® package insert. "Overdosage." Package insert available at: http://www.planbonestep.com/pdf/PlanBPI.pdf. (Accessed September 3, 2009)
xxxiii Plan B® One-Step package insert. "Overdosage." Package insert available at: http://www.planbonestep.com/pdf/PlanBOneStepFullProductInformation.pdf. (Accessed September 3, 2009)
xxxiv Plan B® package insert. "STD/HIV." Package insert available at: http://www.planbonestep.com/pdf/PlanBPI.pdf. (Accessed September 3, 2009)
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Morning After Pill
