Emergency Contraception with Plan B One-Step

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #LetsTalkPlanB #CollectiveBias #ad In this post, I will only be discussing Plan B One-Step!

Happy Monday, and welcome to Medical Mondays! I’ve discussed birth control options before-as you may know- especially if you came across my Day in the Life in Women’s Health post. So, I thought I’d come back today to talk about a form of emergency contraception–Plan B One-Step!

Emergency Contraception with Plan B One-Step

As a family medicine resident physician, I’m a big believer in/advocate for medically and scientifically accurate sex education, and I spend a fair amount of time talking with my “reproductive-age” female patients about their pregnancy intentions and, if they’re interested, counseling them on birth control options.

Sometimes though, even the best plans fail, and accidents can definitely happen. Emergency contraception is an important option for all women and their family planning efforts.

What is Plan B?

Plan B One-Step is a form of emergency contraception to prevent unplanned pregnancy. The active ingredient is levonorgestrel, which is the same ingredient found in many common oral contraceptive (birth control) pills–just at a single, higher dose.

When should I take it?

Plan B should be taken within 72 hours after unprotected intercourse. The sooner you take it, the better it works!

How does it work?

Plan B works primarily by delaying ovulation. It helps to prevent pregnancy before it occurs. It can also alter the lining of the uterus and inhibit implantation of a fertilized egg, but is not effective once the implantation process has already begun.

What are the possible side effects?

The most common side effects are nausea, vomiting, and lower abdominal pain. Irregular bleeding is not uncommon in the month after treatment.

Other less common side effects include dizziness, fatigue, headache, and breast tenderness.

…Muffin has to inspect everything before it’s allowed into the house.

Who can get Plan B?

You do not need an ID or a prescription to purchase Plan B.

It is available over-the-counter (OTC) without any age restrictions.

Where can I get it?

Some of the retailers where you can find Plan B include Target, CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart. You can get $10 off with this coupon.

Some stores will have it on the shelf and others will have it behind the counter (when I went to Target, this was located in the Family Planning section)–if you aren’t able to find it on the shelves, you can always ask the pharmacist and they’ll be able to help you out!

Take it over to the regular Target checkout area to pay! If you don’t feel like interacting ‘with society’, you can also go through the self-checkout area.

How much does it cost?

~$40-50. (But with this coupon you can get it for $10 cheaper!)

Is there anything that might decrease its effectiveness?

• Certain medications that you are taking at the same time: anticonvulsants (seizure medications), antiretrovirals (HIV treatments), oral antifungals, antituberculosis agents, and St. John’s wort products (herbal supplement).

Dispelling Common Misconceptions

• Plan B is not an abortion pill, and will not work on or affect an existing pregnancy. (The medical community defines a pregnancy as established once implantation occurs. Implantation is what triggers your body to start producing beta-hCG, which has to occur before a pregnancy can be recognized–beta-hCG is what the pregnancy test checks for! In that regard, however, if you define pregnancy as beginning before implantation, at fertilization/contraception, then this, along with IUDs and low-dose oral contraceptive pills would all be considered abortifacients and would not be a good choice for you.)
• Taking Plan B One-Step will not impact a woman’s future (or long-term) fertility, and there has been no evidence to suggest that it causes medical harm.
• It should not take the place of regular birth control.
• It does not protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs). If you are concerned for a possible STD, please see your doctor to get tested.
• You do not have to be female to buy Plan B and men can buy it for their female partner.

Online Resources

• Planned Parenthood
• Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• Not-2-Late [non-profit website operated by the Office of Population Research at Princeton University + Association of Reproductive Health Professionals]

• Have you ever heard of Plan B One-Step? Get $10 off with this coupon!
• Was there any information you learned from this post that surprised you?