If you’ve got questions about Plan B, it might be because you’re worried about becoming pregnant after sex. First, take a deep breath: Grappling with the possibility of an unwanted pregnancy can be stressful. But even if it’s been a day or two since you had sex, you have options for preventing pregnancy. Among the best-known of these is Plan B, an emergency contraceptive pill that’s also known as the “morning-after pill.” (Although: You should take it as soon as possible! No need to wait until the next day.)
When Plan B is used correctly and taken at the right time, it can prevent pregnancy. (It can’t prevent sexually transmitted infections, so you may want to get tested.) Plan B, like other forms of emergency contraception, is legal, safe, and accessible. Here’s a beginner’s guide to all things Plan B and some helpful context about taking it effectively, according to ob-gyns.
First, where do I get Plan B?
Plan B doesn’t require a prescription. It’s available over the counter at pharmacies, and you don’t have to be 18 to get it, according to Planned Parenthood. There is one type of emergency contraceptive pill, called ella, that does require a prescription, but you won’t need to talk to a doctor to get Plan B or its generic versions. Depending on the type of Plan B you take, you may need to spend up to $50 out of pocket.
How does Plan B work?
Plan B reduces the chance of pregnancy after unprotected sex by stopping ovulation—the process by which the ovary releases a mature egg that can be fertilized by sperm. According to the World Health Organization, it does not induce an abortion. Rather than terminating an existing pregnancy, like the pills used in a medication abortion do, emergency contraception works by stopping or delaying ovulation or preventing a fertilized egg from implanting into the uterus.
How effective is Plan B?
If you’re thinking about taking Plan B, you’ll want to take it as soon as possible. According to Planned Parenthood, emergency contraceptive pills like Plan B “can lower your chance of getting pregnant by up to 89% if you take it within three days after unprotected sex.”
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Body weight can impact the effectiveness of Plan B. Though BMI is not a perfect marker of health, experts say that Plan B is most effective for those with a BMI under 25, and is not effective for those with a BMI over 30.
Where you are in your menstrual cycle when you have sex is also a factor. If you recently ovulated, then emergency contraception may not be super effective. (Using an app to track your cycle can help; in general, people with regular monthly cycles ovulate about two weeks after the first day of their last period.)
But if you’re about to get your period or just had your period, then it’s not likely you’d get pregnant anyway, Jessica W. Kiley, MD, MPH, and associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, tells SELF. That’s because, in those time frames, you’re probably not close enough to ovulation to conceive. The takeaway: If you’re about to ovulate and you take emergency contraception in time, it’s usually very effective.
How soon after sex should I take Plan B?
Again, you need to take at least your first dose of Plan B within three days, but ideally as soon as possible after unprotected sex for it to work, depending on which form of the medication you’re taking. According to Mary Jane Minkin, MD, an ob-gyn at Yale School of Medicine, sperm can survive in the reproductive tract for two to five days after sex and you can get pregnant during that time period.
Source: SELF
