WHAT DISTINGUISHES PLAN B FROM OTHER ECPs?
Plan B is a form of emergency contraception that can prevent pregnancy if taken within 72 hours after unprotected sex (if a contraceptive fails or if no contraception is used). It is the progestin-only emergency contraceptive to be approved by the FDA. As with other emergency contraception, it may be taken if a mistake is made using another method, if a couple forgets to use a contraceptive, or if a woman is forced to have intercourse. Each Plan B packet includes a single course of treatment and consists of 2 tablets, each containing 0.75 mg levonorgestrel. Both tablets should be taken at once within 120 hours (5 days) of unprotected intercourse. Take Plan B as soon as possible after unprotected intercourse.
WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES?
- Plan B provides an important safety net for women whose regular contraceptive method may have failed, or for women who may have had intercourse without contraception.
- The Plan B regimen is highly effective, reducing the average risk of pregnancy among users from about 8 percent to about 1 percent. If taken in the first 24 hours after intercourse, Plan B reduces the risk of pregnancy by 89%.
- Plan B's levonorgestrel-only regimen is much better tolerated than the 25-year-old emergency contraception regimen which combines ethinyl estradiol plus norgestrel or levonorgestrel.
- There is no scientific data to suggest that there would be an increased risk of birth defects if Plan B fails or if a woman who is already pregnant takes Plan B.
WHAT ARE THE DISADVANTAGES?
- Plan B is not a substitute for correct use of regular contraceptives. It is not dangerous to use emergency contraceptive pills more than once. It is definately preferable to find an ongoing method of contraception that you will use consistently and correctly.
- Possible side effects of Plan B are nausea (about 25%), vomiting (about 10%), lower abdominal pain, fatigue, headache, dizziness, breast tenderness, and menstrual changes.
- After taking Plan B, your next period may be early, on time, or late.
WHERE CAN I GET PLAN B?
Plan B can be provided through advance prescription, prescription by telephone, walk-in prescription, or an office visit. Neither a pelvic examination nor a pregnancy test is required before treatment. Some clinicians are not familiar with emergency contraception. In this case, call the toll-free hotline, 1-888-NOT-2-LATE for phone numbers of clinicians near you who prescribe emergency contraceptive pills. This hotline also provides information about other emergency contraceptive options. In planning for emergency contraceptive services, it is important to keep in mind that the sooner Plan B is taken after unprotected intercourse, the more effective it is. Ask your clinician for a Plan B prescription, get it filled and be prepared in case of a contraceptive mistake.
ANOTHER LESS DESIRABLE APPROACH: COMBINED ORAL CONTRACEPTIVES PILLS (COCS)
- Ovral: Take 2 pills as oon as possible within 120 hourse of unprotected intercourse and then 2 more pills 12 hours later.
- Seasonale, Leveln, Lo-Ovral, Nordette, Low-Ogestrel, Levora, Tri-Leven, Trivora, or Tri Phasil: Take 4 pills as soon as possible within 120 hours of unprotected intercourse and 4 more pills 12 hours later.
- Alesse, Aviane, Lessina, Levlite, Empresse, Portia: Take 5 pills as soon as possible within 120 hours of unprotected intercourse, and 5 more pills 12 hours later.
WHAT IF I HAVE SEX AND DON’T USE BIRTH CONTROL?
Did you know that for 120 hours after sex, you can take emergency contraceptive pills to avoid becoming pregnant? AND for 5 to 7 days after sex, you can have an IUD put in so you won't become pregnant? Emergency postcoital insertion of the Copper T 380 A IUD (ParaGard) is the most effective currently available postcoital contraceptive. Not all clinicians know about this. If you want more information or would like the phone numbers of clinicians near you that prescribe emergency birth control, call the toll-free hotline (1-888) NOT-2-LATE. Some of these sources of help are free. PLAN B is the emergency contraceptive pill that causes the least nausea and the least vomiting. | |
