We’ve all been there- one second you were twerking against a frat star in a steamy basement and now you’re rolling around together in a twin size bed. You both are sweaty, thoughts are blurry, but you can’t help to get caught up in the moment. Clothes are now completely off, things have escalated, and this night is turning out to be a lot more fun than you were expecting. We all know where this story ends…but what happens when it unexpectedly goes wrong?
If the condom breaks, you’ve been bad with your pill, or if things went further than you were intending, sometimes having a Plan B can save your a**.
1 in 9 sexually active women have used means of emergency contraceptives. Emergency contraceptive pills, what we know as “the morning after pill,” reduce half the rate of accidental pregnancies. These pills work similarly to birth control. Only, Plan-B pills release a higher dose of the synthetic birth control hormones in a shorter period of time. The pills work to prevent ovulation, fertilization, and implantation. In other words, the secreted hormones will stop the ovaries from releasing an egg and will block sperm from reaching and fertilizing the egg to prevent pregnancy.
In the face of its convenience and obvious benefits, there is much hearsay about Plan-B that would make anyone question taking it. Below we decrypt fact from fiction.
Myth: It’s the same as abortion.False. Plan-B prevents pregnancy; it does not impinge on existing pregnancy.
As we noted before, Plan-B releases an abundance of hormones to suppress ovulation, block fertilization, and to prevent implantation of a fertilized egg into the uterine wall. It is not an abortive pill. If a woman is already pregnant and takes Plan-B, the pill is simply ineffective and causes no harm to the existing fetus.
Myth: Plan-B comes with alarming side effectsFalse. The secreted level of hormones that follows Plan-B consumption is in no way harmful to a woman’s body. The pill comes with a warning of side effects that are also common with regular birth control pills: “nausea, headache, dizziness, breast tenderness, and period changes.”
(If one experiences intensified side effects, one should consult with a medical professional.)
Myth: Plan-B is dangerous to take if there are alcohol or drugs in the bloodstream.False. A night out partying does not hinder the effectiveness of emergency contraceptive pills. Furthermore, taking Plan B with alcohol in the bloodstream will not induce any reaction or horrifying side effects.
Note: Partying may increase the likelihood of getting you in the predicament in which you need Plan B. It will not, however, decrease the pill’s success.
Myth: If I took Plan B this morning, I am covered to have unprotected sex tonight and/or tomorrow.False. Plan B is only effective in protecting against one act of unprotected sex. After Plan B secretes its hormones to suppress ovulation, ovulation is pushed back for a few days. If you continue to have unprotected sex, you are consciously accumulating sperm in your fallopian tubes. Therefore, when your egg is eventually released into your tubes where there is sperm waiting, you have further increased your risk of pregnancy.
Myth: If you take Plan B too many times, you are endangering your fertility.False. Just like regular birth control pills, Plan B does not affect a woman’s future ability to get pregnant. The pill is only a higher dose of birth control pills, containing progestin hormones, which naturally occur in the body otherwise. It is 100% safe and there is no evidence of it affecting fertility.
Myth: The more often you take Plan B, the less effective it becomes.False. Plan B does not become less effective over time. There are no medical dangers in taking Plan B multiple times in a year, but it is not advised to be a source of reliance. There are far more consistently effective methods of contraceptive that should be used before emergency contraceptive pills. Plan B should be used as only a safety net.
Let’s also discern the common questions we hear buzzing about Plan B:
When should I take Plan B?As soon as possible! Granted, no one pops the pill as soon as the sun rises which makes the “morning after pill” a bit of misnomer. But, take Plan B ASAP and no later than 72 hours after having the unprotected sex for maximum effectiveness.
Where do I get Plan B? Do I need a prescription?You do not need a prescription for emergency contraceptive pills. Plan B is sold over the counter for around $50 at local drug stores for women 15 and older. But, if you hit up the Bucknell Student Health Center it is sold for only $10!
Is Plan B the only brand of emergency contraceptive pills?No! “Plan B One-Step” is the best-known brand, but generic versions are also sold and are just as effective and reliable: Next Step One Dose, My Way, and Take Action. If the local CVS ran out of Plan B, no worries! Any of the other emergency contraceptive brands will do the trick just as well.
Remember- Plan B emergency contraceptive pills should never be your only method of contraceptive.
Plan B One-Step protects against 7 in 8 pregnancies. Evidently, it is far less effective than other means of contraception. Try to remember to take your regular birth control as prescribed, always use condoms, and fall back onto your Plan B only when necessary.
Disclaimer: This article is entirely informative based upon individual research. This information should not stand in place of medical advice. For further information or questions, consult with a medical professional.
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