Your Health

Plan B (Morning-After Pill) – What You Need to Know

What Is Plan B?

Plan B is the brand name of a morning-after pill, which is a form of contraception or emergency birth control. It was approved by the FDA in 2009 as emergency contraception. Women often take the medication to prevent pregnancy when they have had unprotected sex or found other birth control options not working. However, keep in mind that it should be used as a backup for contraception only instead of a primary option of birth control. Plan B contains levonorgestrel and can be purchased over the counter without a prescription. [1]

How Plan B Works

Plan B works to prevent pregnancy in two ways:

– Prevent the implanting of a fertilized egg in the uterus

– Prevent the releasing of an egg by the ovary

As Plan B prevents the ovary from releasing an egg, there is nothing for the sperm to fertilize. As a result, pregnancy cannot happen. When sperm finds its way to fertilize an egg, the medication can prevent the implanting of this fertilized egg in the uterus, thus preventing pregnancy. When a fertilized egg implants in the uterus, Plan B is not an option. [2]