Plan B Morning After Pill

The Plan B morning after pill was first approved by the FDA in July 1999. The basic make up of the product is that it has two progestin-only pills containing levonorgestrel. The difference between the Plan B and the original morning after pill is that the original tended to make people feel nauseas whereas Plan B doesn’t seem to have that adverse of a side effect. Surprisingly, it also has a higher success rate with the original having a 3% chance of pregnancy and Plan B having a 1% chance.

Since Plan B seems to be better all around, more women will feel comfortable taking it and therefore the unwanted pregnancy rate will go down. If you are in a position where the Plan B may be something you will need, you should be aware of the following details:

�Where Can You Get It from?
Until recently, the only way you could get the Plan B morning after pill is through your doctor. Yet the new FDA approval has made the pill available over the counter. Some regulations still require physician approval, but for the most part it will now be available for purchase at any local pharmacy as long as you’re over the age of eighteen.

�How Do I Know If I Can Take the Pill and When Should I Take It?
It is recommended that you do not take the pill if you suspect that you actually are pregnant. The idea is to take the morning after pill before conception takes place. Also, if you have had any allergic reactions to any ingredients found in birth control pills, you should not take it. Women who are breastfeeding are permitted to use Plan B.

The best time to take the Plan B morning after pill is as the name states, the morning after. However, it can be taken any time up to three days after intercourse has occurred. Though it is important to stress that its effectiveness wears off the longer you hold off from taking it. Results have shown that if the pill is taken on the first day after intercourse, the results were 95% successful, on day two it was 85% successful and on the third and final day it was only 60% successful. So, obviously purchasing Plan B sooner rather than later is preferred.

�Who Should Never Take the Plan B Pill?
In diabetic women, the Plan B morning after pill can throw off the blood sugar and cause life threatening problems. A physician would need to be consulted before using the Plan B, so that they can be monitored closely. Also, any woman with abnormal vaginal bleeding should speak to a doctor before taking the pill because their condition could become aggravated.

�Will I Suffer Any Side Effects?
Plan B can be taken at any time during a woman’s menstrual cycle and it is usually taken twice. The second dose is usually 12 hours after the first time. Although, the Plan B morning after pill has a reduced risk of nausea, it still tends to adversely affect around a fourth of the women that take it. If a woman suffers nausea, most doctors permit taking over the counter stomach relief medications to combat this side effect. In addition to the nausea, possible Plan B side effects that women have reported were abdominal pain, headache and fatigue after taking the pill. Some women have also experienced spotting while taking it, if heavier bleeding occurs a physician should be contacted.

The FDA approved the Plan B morning after pill in 2003 to be sold over the counter. However, the decision was overruled, but now it is again all set to be sold in pharmacies across the country to women over the age of eighteen. There is little doubt that there will be controversy surrounding this ruling, but there is no denying that this is a step in the right direction for women’s reproductive rights. The most pertinent thing to remember is to be safe if you use the Plan B pill and to consult a doctor if the need arises.