It’s the morning after you had sex and you’re thinking something went wrong. Your first reaction is to take the “morning after pill”, or Plan B. Although many college girls take Plan B just to be safe, there are many side effects and minor issues one should be aware of before automatically taking it.
Plan B is taken after unprotected sex, it is an emergency contraceptive, not an abortive type of drug. It is more effective the sooner you take it. If Plan B is taken within 24 hours of having unprotected sex it can reduce the risk of pregnancy about 95%, whereas taking Plan B between 24 and 72 hours after unprotected sex the risk of pregnancy is reduced up to 89%.
Plan B involves taking two pills, one pill then another 10 to 12 hours later whereas with Plan B One Step you only have to take one pill, which is the only difference between Plan B and Plan B One Step. They both contain levonorgestrel which is the same ingredient found in many birth control pills. When you go to the pharmacy or health center here at Quinnipiac for Plan B, you will most likely be given Plan B One Step. If you are 17 or older, you can receive Plan B at the pharmacy without a prescription. Plan B will not work if you are already pregnant, it does not terminate pregnancy. It may prevent or delay ovulation or could interfere with the fertilization of an egg. It also does not protect you from sexually transmitted diseases and HIV.
Plan B is not a main form of birth control, it is a back up plan, not a regular daily medication. Many women live by the idea or rumor of only being able to take Plan B three times within their lives, however this may not be true. The more you take it, the more prone you are to the regular side effects. The regular side effects are similar to the side effects of birth control. Side effects of Plan B include change or irregularity of your period, headache, dizziness, fatigue, nausea, abdominal pain, and breast tenderness. Also, it may be too strong for an individual and you may have a stronger reaction than expected.
So, how do you know if Plan B has worked for you? The only way to know if Plan B is effective is the next time you get your period. You should get your period regularly scheduled or within a week of when you originally expected it. Pay attention to your next period and when you receive because if it is more than 7 days, there could be a possibility that you could be pregnant. If you regularly take birth control, you can resume taking it after taking Plan B. You can continue your usual ways of taking birth control or begin taking it if you don’t already.
If you need Plan B you can go to a local pharmacy where it is about $50.00 dollars or visit the Quinnipiac Health center which will provide it to you for $20.00 cash. The Quinnipiac Health center has a great staff of Women’s services nurses and doctors so dont be afraid to schdeule an appointment with them for any of your womenly needs!
For more information on Plan B visit:
http://women.webmd.com/guide/plan-b?page=2
http://www.modernmom.com/article/how-many-times-can-someone-take-the-pla…
http://planbonestep.com/plan-b-faq.aspx