If you’re sexually active and hoping to avoid an unplanned pregnancy, you need to understand the difference between Plan B and the abortion pill.
In today’s article, we are breaking down the important differences between Plan B and the abortion pill, including how these two medications work, what the side effects and risks include, and what to do before you consider using them.
What is Plan B?
Some call it Plan B, some call it “the morning-after pill” — this over-the-counter medication can be used to prevent an unwanted pregnancy from occurring if taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex.
The main thing to note here is that Plan B does not terminate a pregnancy. Instead, it uses several defense mechanisms to ensure that the body is unable to begin developing a pregnancy in the first place.
How does Plan B prevent a pregnancy?
Plan B uses the following lines of defense to prevent a pregnancy from developing after unprotected sex:
- Preventing the body from ovulating so an egg is not released.
- If an egg is released, the medication will block it from being fertilized.
- If an egg is somehow fertilized, the medication will prevent the fertilized egg from implanting in the uterus.
How effective is Plan B?
The sooner you take Plan B, the more effective it will be. If taken in the first 24 hours after unprotected sex, Plan B is 95% effective in preventing pregnancy. However, if taken between 48 and 72 hours after sex, the medication is only 61% effective in preventing an unwanted pregnancy.
If you think you might be pregnant after taking Plan B, schedule an appointment at True Care to receive free lab-quality pregnancy testing and an ultrasound scan.
Are there side effects from Plan B?
Taking Plan B can result in some uncomfortable side effects, such as pain in the abdomen, heavy bleeding, nausea, exhaustion, headaches, and dizziness.
What is the abortion pill?
The abortion pill, often called a medical abortion, is a chemical process of ending an unwanted pregnancy. This two-pill process is only effective in the first 10 weeks of pregnancy, and unlike Plan B, is designed to terminate a pregnancy that has already begun to grow and develop.
How does the abortion pill work?
The abortion pill process uses two medications: Mifepristone and Misoprostol. These medications are taken separately during two phases of the abortion pill process. Mifepristone is a drug that prevents the body from producing the natural pregnancy hormone called progesterone, which will result in the termination of the pregnancy.
Misoprostol is a drug taken to cause contractions and cause the uterus to expel any remaining pregnancy tissue to complete the abortion process.
Will I experience side effects from taking the abortion pill?
It is normal for women who take the abortion pill to experience cramping and bleeding as the body pushes the pregnancy tissue from the womb. In addition, women will also likely experience side effects including nausea, exhaustion, chills, fever, vomiting, headaches, diarrhea, and dizziness.
In addition to the above side effects, some women report experiencing more serious, long-term health risks related to their abortion procedures, including sepsis, infection, and hemorrhaging.
What do I need to do before I take the abortion pill?
True Care provides free pregnancy healthcare services, including ultrasound scans, pregnancy testing, options counseling, and more to help you make an informed and safe choice for your pregnancy. It’s important to know that it is possible to reverse your medical abortion if you’ve changed your mind. True Care offers free abortion pill reversal.
Schedule your no-cost and confidential appointment today!