Plan B Facts

by Lizzie Fuhr 0

The morning-after pill is a relatively new addition to the world of contraception for women, but more and more women are using it. Plan B or Next Day are both viable options when your normal birth control methods don't necessarily pan out. But before you go popping those two tiny pills, make sure you know the facts about what you're putting into your body.

1. It's no replacement for routine birth control. You shouldn't be relying on the morning-after pill instead of routine birth control methods, like the daily pill. But no need to worry, you can take it multiple times a year without any worry of if it will work. If you're using Plan B as a backup contraception method, then it's absolutely a steal compared to the costs you could be dealing with in the future. It will run you about $45.
2. You won't know if it has worked until your next cycle. There's no way to know if the morning-after pill has proven to be effective until you start your next period. In terms of your normal cycle, if you're more than a week late, it's time to take a pregnancy test.
3. If you're already pregnant, it won't change things. Plan B is not the same as the abortion pill. The hormones in Plan B prevent the release of a woman's egg or the sperm from joining with one. If you're already pregnant, nothing will happen.
4. The sooner you take it, the more effective it is. If you take it within three days, it reduces your risk by 89 percent. Many say that it's effective up to 120 hours, or five days, after the mishap, but you should not put this off just because there's a window. You might as well get it over with as soon as possible.

Have any more concerns of questions about the morning after pill? Ask below!