Why Plan B
PLAN B IS A FORM OF EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION
Plan B, also known as the “morning after pill,” is for times when your birth control method has failed or been forgotten and you don’t want to get pregnant. Whether you’ve missed a few pills, the condom broke or slipped off, or you forgot to insert your diaphragm, etc., you can count on plan B for pregnancy prevention. Plan B can be taken up to 72 hours after unprotected sex but the sooner you take it, the more effective it is. Use the calculator found on this page to determine how effective it will be for you.
WHAT IS PLAN B? Plan B is the first emergency contraceptive approved for sale in Canada. Each tablet contains 0.75 mg of Levonorgestrel—the same ingredient commonly found in birth control pills. Plan B can prevent pregnancy if taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex.
WHAT IT’S NOT
It’s not an abortion pill. It won’t work and shouldn’t be taken if you’re already pregnant, or you think you are. Don’t take more than one dose (2 pills) unless recommended by a healthcare professional. Taking more doses will not make it more effective. It’s not protection from HIV/AIDS or other sexually transmitted diseases or infections (STDs/STIs). It’s not long-term protection against pregnancy. It only works to prevent pregnancy from this one incident. It’s not your regular contraceptive. If you're even rarely or occasionally sexually active, find out about all available contraceptives and discuss them with your doctor.
MOST WOMEN CAN TAKE PLAN B SAFELY
Since the year 2000 hundreds of thousands of women have taken plan B. Speak to your pharmacist to find out if Levonorgestrel products are right for you. And be sure to talk to a doctor or pharmacist first if you have: undiagnosed abnormal vaginal bleeding, known or suspected breast cancer, liver disease or tumour, high blood pressure, or if you have diabetes, are using any other medication, or are breastfeeding. Make sure you’re not allergic to any of the non-medicinal ingredients: colloidal silicon dioxide, potato starch, magnesium stearate, talc, cornstarch and lactose monohydrate.
How the day after pill Plan B Works:- PLAN B IS SIMPLE TO USE And remember the sooner you take it the more effective it is. How does plan B work? plan B is two pills which you take together. If taken within 72 hours, it prevents pregnancy by doing one of three things: 1. Temporarily stops the release of an egg from the ovary 2. Prevents fertilization 3. Prevents a fertilized egg from attaching to the uterus
Plan B is a day after pill, not an abortion pill—if you take plan B you will not be terminating a pregnancy. If you are already pregnant and take plan B, there’s no evidence that plan B will harm you or the fetus.
Plan B is the first emergency contraceptive approved for sale in Canada. Each tablet contains 0.75 mg of Levonorgestrel—the same ingredient commonly found in birth control pills. Plan B can prevent pregnancy if taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex.
It’s not an abortion pill. It won’t work and shouldn’t be taken if you’re already pregnant, or you think you are. Don’t take more than one dose (2 pills) unless recommended by a healthcare professional. Taking more doses will not make it more effective. It’s not protection from HIV/AIDS or other sexually transmitted diseases or infections (STDs/STIs). It’s not long-term protection against pregnancy. It only works to prevent pregnancy from this one incident. It’s not your regular contraceptive. If you're even rarely or occasionally sexually active, find out about all available contraceptives and discuss them with your doctor.
SIDE EFFECTS OF THE MORNING AFTER PILL - PLAN B It’s very unlikely that you will have any severe reaction to plan B. You may have some temporary side effects that usually pass within 24 hours.
MOST COMMON PLAN B SIDE EFFECTS Nausea: 14 to 23% of women Vomiting: About 6% of women Irregular menstrual bleeding: Some women may experience spotting after taking plan B. The majority of women will have their next menstrual period at the expected time or early. When plan B is used repeatedly (more than once within a menstrual cycle, or more than occasional once-a-month use), menstrual changes may occur, including a shorter or longer cycle and a heavier or lighter period.
LESS COMMON SIDE EFFECTS • Breast tenderness, • headache, dizziness, • fatigue, • lower abdominal pain, • and diarrhea. If the symptoms continue for more than 48 hours or are severe, see your health professional.
UNUSUAL Side Effects - CALL A HEALTH PROFESSIONAL • Itching and a rash • Sudden or unusual cramps or pain in the stomach or belly • Migraine or severe headache • Any effects that persist or worsen • If you vomit within one hour of taking plan B, you may need to take another dose Some medications can interact with plan B and make it less effective. These include: anticonvulsant drugs (phenytoin, carbamazepine), antibiotics (ampicillin, cotrimoxazole, tetracycline, clarithromycin), rifampicin, acetaminophen.
There are some medical conditions that may mean plan B is not right for you. plan B is not recommended if: • You have a confirmed pregnancy • You are allergic to it, or to any of the components of its formulation • You have abnormal vaginal bleeding There is no evidence of any long-term impact on your health or future fertility.
What to Expect:-
plan B is harmless and effectual. To begin with plan B, make sure you have read and understand How plan B workings. Even though few women experience nausea with plan B, if you heave within an hour of taking plan B, you might have not absorbed the medication in the pills. Look for your healthcare professional, as if you might need another dose of plan B. After you have taken plan B, you should get your next Menopause period at the expected date, or a few days early or late. You may knowledge spotting a few days after taking orally plan B. While you are coming up for your next Menopause period, desist from having intercourse or make sure you use a contraceptive while you are having intercourse. If you have taken plan B because you are afraid that you may have missed birth control pills, ask your pharmacist or physician about the best way for you to restart them or you can mail us for the best reply. Do not forget to use another means of contraception, such as condoms, until your birth control is working again.
If your Menopause period is late by over a week, or you have not had a Menopause period within three weeks of taking plan B, it is very much possible that you are pregnant. Talk to your doctor over this issue and have a pregnancy test done as soon as possible.
Good to know: Tell your doctor if you have taken plan B within three days of a Papanicolaou test, as it may affect the results.
