Morning After Pill

What is the Morning After Pill?

The Morning-After pill, Plan B One-Step®  (not to be confused with Ella) works by releasing a high dose of progestin (levonorgestrel) which is found in many birth control pills. It may work by preventing the egg and sperm from meeting by delaying ovulation. The pill must be taken within 72 hours after unprotected sex. Taking Plan B One-Step® does not reliably stop ovulation, so fertilization of the egg may still take place.  However, by other effects, the medication then prevents the newly-formed life from settling into the uterus and continuing to grow, which some consider a form of early abortion.*

If implantation has already occurred, the Morning-After pill is not effective in terminating the pregnancy. Also, it will not protect you against sexually transmitted diseases. Side effects may include: changes in your period, nausea and vomiting, lower abdominal pain, fatigue, headache, dizziness or breast tenderness.  For more information on the Morning-After Pill and other forms of emergency contraception make an appointment to learn more.
woman smiling and happy

*Noe et al, Contraceptive efficacy of emergency contraception with levonorgestrel given before or after ovulation. Contraception. 2011 Nov;84(5):486-92.
Peck et al. Does levonorgestrel emergency contraceptive have a post-fertilization effect? A review of its mechanism of action. Linacre Q. 2016 Feb; 83(1): 35–51.

Morning After Pill vs. the Abortion Pill

Some people confuse the Morning After Pill with the abortion pill, (which also goes by The Abortion Pill). These two are not one in the same, however. The Morning After Pill can be used after 72 hours of unprotected sex to prevent pregnancy by keeping the egg from implanting itself in the uterus. The Morning After Pill does not work after 72 hours of unprotected sex. The abortion pills, can be used within 10 weeks or 70 days from the first day of a woman’s last menstrual period to end early pregnancy. Medical abortion uses different chemicals than the Morning After Pill and involves up to 3 visits to the abortion provider.