Many sexually active people have experienced an “accident” throughout their sexual endeavors, and many of these same people are not looking to conceive a child. Luckily, there are preventative measures that can be taken — one of which is Plan B.
Plan B — and other morning after pills — is an emergency contraceptive that is administered in the form of a pill. It is designed to prevent a pregnancy if a contraceptive during sex was not used, or if it is thought that a contraceptive will not work. Plan B should ideally be taken within three days of having unprotected sex, yet it can still work when taken up to five days after. With this time frame in mind, Plan B is the most effective when taken as soon as possible.
In a time where the right to one’s bodily autonomy is a polarizing topic of debate, it is crucial to understand the difference between an abortion and an emergency contraceptive. A common misconception is that Plan B has the potential to harm an existing pregnancy, yet this is simply not the case.
“Emergency contraception sometimes is confused with medical abortion. Medical abortion is used to terminate an existing pregnancy, whereas emergency contraception is effective only before a pregnancy is established. Emergency contraception can prevent pregnancy after sexual intercourse and is ineffective after implantation. Studies of high-dose oral contraceptives indicate that hormonal emergency contraception confers no risk to an established pregnancy or harm to a developing embryo.”
While Plan B is a valuable tool in preventing an unwanted pregnancy, it is important to note that it is not guaranteed to always work; Plan B only reduces the chances of getting pregnant by 75 to 89 percent when used as instructed. An individual may also experience side effects such as an irregular period or lightheadedness — though the latter is less common.
Plan B — and other emergency contraceptive pills — can be bought without a prescription at most drugstores and pharmacies. There are no restrictions in place regarding who is able to purchase Plan B — anyone of any age or gender is able to purchase an emergency contraceptive pill. Numerous health insurance plans allow individuals to acquire Plan B for free, yet this usually requires a prescription.
“Use of EC [emergency contraception] pills has increased over the past 20 years. Between 2017 and 2019, the most recent years for which data are currently available, 28% of women ages 15 to 44 who have ever had sex with a male reported they had used EC pills at least once in their lives, an increase from 4% in 2002.”
Given that people with the ability to become pregnant understand that Plan B cannot terminate a pregnancy, individuals should be able to make more informed decisions in response to their sexual encounters.
