What you need to know about Plan B One-Step, the emergency contraceptive. Here are questions and answers about the emergency contraceptive Plan B One-Step. Plan B One-Step is an emergency contraceptive pill taken by mouth after unprotected sex. It is used to prevent pregnancy. It is not for routine contraceptive use and does not prevent
against sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV. Plan B One-Step should be taken within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse. When taken within 72 hours, it decreases the chance of
getting pregnant by 89%. It's even more effective when taken within 24 hours. Effectiveness decreases the longer a woman waits to take it. Plan B One-Step can be purchased over the counter by anyone. There's no need to have a prescription or show proof of age. Each pill contains levonorgestrel, a synthetic version of the hormone progestin. Levonorgestrel has been used in birth control pills for over 35 years. Plan B
One-Step contains a higher dose of levonorgestrel than that in regular birth control pills. Plan B One-Step works like other birth control pills to prevent pregnancy. The drug acts primarily by stopping the release of an egg from the ovary. It may prevent a
sperm from fertilizing the egg. If fertilization does occur, Plan B One-Step may prevent a fertilized egg from attaching to the womb. If a fertilized egg is implanted prior to taking Plan B One-Step, the drug will not work and pregnancy proceeds normally. Like any medication, Plan B One-Step does have side effects. The most common side effect is nausea, which occurs in about a quarter of women after taking the drug. Other side effects include
abdominal pain, fatigue, headache, dizziness,
vomiting, and menstrual changes. If you vomit within two hours of taking Plan B One-Step, consult a health care professional to find out if you need to take another dose. No. RU-486, sold as
Mifeprex, is a prescription drug for medical abortion. Mifeprex is used after a woman is already pregnant. Plan B One-Step is an emergency contraceptive. It is used to prevent pregnancy. While some people do feel that pregnancy begins at the time of conception, many
doctors and the FDA do not describe Plan B One-Step as an abortion pill but as emergency contraception. Plan B One-Step: Seven Questions and Answers
1. What is Plan B One-Step?
2. How is Plan B One-Step taken?
3. Who may buy Plan B One-Step?
4. What is Plan B One-Step's active ingredient?
5. How does Plan B One-Step work?
6. Does Plan B One-Step have any side effects?
7. Is Plan B One-Step the same as RU-486?
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while you're on the go. Plan B is an over-the-counter emergency contraceptive that should be taken within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse to prevent pregnancy. Emergency contraceptives come in many brands including Plan B One-Step, Aftera, Econtra EZ, Take Action, Preventeza, and
more. Here's what to expect if you take a Plan B pill.
The Side Effects of Plan B
The way emergency contraceptives work is that they contain a large dose of levonorgestrel. Levonorgestrel is a synthetic hormone that mimics the sex hormone progesterone, which prevents ovulation and, hence, pregnancy.
Plan B and other emergency contraceptives contain 1.5 milligrams of levonorgestrel. That's three times more than what you get in a regular birth control pill. As a result, this large, concentrated dose can cause side effects like:
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Pelvic pain
Less common side effects include:
- Vomiting
- Headaches
- Breast tenderness
You might also notice changes to your menstrual cycle, like irregular bleeding.
While Plan B side effects can be uncomfortable, they shouldn't feel excessively extreme or severe. If your side effects continue or become worse after more than a few days, visit with a doctor.
How long Plan B side effects should last
"The duration of side effects is variable from woman to woman," says Dr. Nina Carroll, MD and OB-GYN of Your Doctors Online. But here is what the experience could look like if you decide to use Plan B.
- Day 1: After taking the pill, you may experience mild side effects like nausea, vomiting, and pelvic pain. Some people may vomit within two hours of taking the pill. In this case, it is important to retake the pill to guarantee its effectiveness.
- Days 2 and 3: Symptoms may continue over the course of days two and three.
- Day 4: Most people will no longer experience the side effects of taking a Plan B after four days of using the pill.
- Days or weeks later: Menstrual changes are a common experience for its users and the symptoms may not show up until a woman's next menstrual cycle, which may be anywhere from days or even weeks after taking the pill.
How to relieve Plan B side effects
Unfortunately, there's nothing you can do to make the side effects resolve more quickly or prevent them from happening in the first place.
However, you may be able to manage your symptoms. Doctors may suggest an anti-nausea medicine or pain reliever to reduce discomfort.
Related stories about contraception:
- The first clinical trial of a male contraceptive gel is starting in the UK, and it could mean an alternative to the pill
- Male contraception hasn't changed much since the condom was invented over 5,000 years ago. You can blame biology.
- A startup seeded by Silicon Valley's hottest mentorship program aims to bring the first male birth control to market
- Getting pregnant while taking contraception could be beyond your control if you have a certain gene
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