Plan B is designed to prevent pregnancy in two ways: thickening cervical fluid, disrupting fallopian tube movement and thinning the endometrium lining, which makes it more difficult for sperm and eggs to meet or for the fertilized embryo to implant into your uterus.

Is it safe?

Plan B is an effective solution for preventing pregnancy after unprotected sexual encounter or when other birth control methods fail. The medication contains levonorgestrel, a hormone which works to block fertilization by binding to both sperm and egg receptors and thus blocking fertilization altogether. Also referred to as morning-after pill, abortion pill or an RU-486 device, Plan B can help stop pregnancy in its tracks.

Women can purchase Plan B from their physician, pharmacist or reproductive healthcare provider. It is advised to keep it on hand in case of unexpected pregnancy or contraceptive failure – no age restrictions or prescription requirements exist!

Medication to prevent pregnancy is most effective if taken within 72 hours of unprotected sexual encounter or contraceptive failure, or within seven days if contraception failed altogether. Unfortunately, late taking does not work in terms of pregnancy prevention; women must wait at least 14 days until starting menstruation before taking this medicine.

Plan B is safe to take as a form of long-term birth control, though its efficacy lags behind other methods and it may increase your risk for pregnancy complications if taken regularly.

Routine use of Plan B may alter your menstrual cycle, leading to heavier or lighter periods or abnormal vaginal discharge or bleeding. While these side effects typically resolve within days, they should serve as a red flag that more serious medical conditions require immediate medical treatment – such as an ectopic pregnancy which needs urgent medical intervention immediately.

Is it effective?

Plan B (levonorgestrel) is an over-the-counter backup form of birth control designed to prevent pregnancy in the event that primary methods fail or after unprotected sexual encounter. Commonly referred to as the morning-after pill, Plan B should only be taken when used in emergency circumstances and as backup for long term methods like pills, patches, rings or intrauterine devices. It’s safe for use, yet should never replace these forms of contraception in your life.

Methods include postponing ovulation to decrease sperm’s chances of fertilizing an egg and changing the female reproductive tract lining to inhibit implantation of fertilized embryos – often called abortion by antiabortion advocates but non-embryocidal.

According to the manufacturer, seven out of eight women who take birth control pills correctly should not become pregnant. However, its effectiveness may diminish with taking it too late (earlier is better), having higher body weight or taking certain medications such as St John’s Wort or seizure medicines.

Plan B can be effective when taken within 72 hours (3 days) after unprotected sex or contraception failure; however, its efficacy won’t work on those already pregnant. For optimal results, Plan B should be taken within three days from unprotected sex or contraceptive failure.

Be mindful that taking too much Plan B may cause side effects like nausea, abdominal pain or menstrual changes that are unwanted and should not be used as a replacement for condoms. If you experience any negative side effects from Plan B use, talk to your physician; most symptoms usually subside within several days but if severe reactions such as trouble breathing arise seek emergency medical help immediately.

Is it safe to take with other medications?

Hormonal morning after pills (Plan B, My Way and Next Choice One Dose) should not interact negatively with any other medications you’re taking; however, it is wise to inform both your physician and pharmacist of all medicines you’re taking as this could alter how effectively Plan B works or cause side effects.

As soon as you take a hormonal morning after pill, its contents will quickly enter your bloodstream and start having an impact on your ovaries or uterine lining, leading to side effects like nausea, tiredness, dizziness, abdominal cramping and breast tenderness. Some individuals also report experiencing changes to their period such as it arriving up to one week late or lighter or heavier than usual.

Plan B is only effective at preventing pregnancy if taken within 72 hours of unprotected sexual contact; otherwise it won’t help stop an already fertilized egg from implanting in your uterus.

If you are considering using Plan B regularly as birth control, discuss alternative forms with your ob-gyn. This form is much more reliable and effective than emergency pills for protecting against pregnancy.

Research suggests that Plan B may be less effective among individuals with higher body mass index, or BMI. This means it may not work effectively for women who are overweight or obese. If this applies to you, speak with your ob-gyn about whether another method would work better; such as copper IUDs which have proven themselves over 95% effective over five years while being readily available without prescription or medical exam.

Is it safe to take with food?

Plan B is an emergency contraception pill often called the morning-after pill and works to lower your chances of pregnancy following unprotected sexual encounter. Containing levonorgestrel hormone, this plan reduces ovulation while altering uterine lining changes that prevent sperm from fertilizing an egg; additionally it may block fertilized eggs from implanting themselves into uterus walls – so much so that many antiabortion advocates consider this form of emergency contraception an abortion method.

Important to keep in mind when taking a morning-after pill is that its effectiveness depends on being taken within 72 hours of unprotected sexual encounter or failed birth control; its efficacy decreases over time so the sooner it’s taken, the better its results may be.

Plan B effectiveness may also depend on your body weight, although experts don’t fully understand why. They speculate that an increase in Body Mass Index (BMI) may alter how the medication is absorbed and distributed – possibly impacting its ability to delay ovulation.

Plan B is still effective despite these limitations; seven out of eight people who take it correctly won’t become pregnant as a result of unprotected sex after taking Plan B if taken on time and having an elevated BMI.

Women should also be aware that taking Plan B may increase menstrual bleeding. If this occurs after taking it, contact a physician immediately as this could indicate an ectopic pregnancy that requires immediate medical care. Keep a record of all prescription and nonprescription medicines taken including herbal products as this will assist healthcare providers when providing their advice and solutions to you.

Is it safe to take after sex?

Planned Parenthood has reported that taking an over-the-counter morning-after pill containing high concentrations of hormones to prevent pregnancy can reduce your chances of becoming pregnant by up to 89% if taken within 72 hours of unprotected sexual activity, but its efficacy decreases with each passing day if taken later than that. As an alternative option, an implant called Ella or copper IUD offer 99-100% chance of preventing pregnancy respectively.

If you decide to use Plan B, one dose will last about three days; it’s best to take two pills within 12 hours of one another; otherwise you increase the risk for pregnancy, according to OB-GYN Mary Jane Minkin, MD. If either pill is missed, there is an increased risk for gestation.

Plan B is generally safe, though there may be side effects you should monitor closely. If you experience severe abdominal pain on one side or excessive vomiting, contact your healthcare provider or the emergency room immediately. Furthermore, one third of women find their next period heavier than usual which shouldn’t be dangerous but may be annoying; additionally soaking through one full tampon every 2 or 3 hours could indicate abnormal uterine bleeding so contact your provider as this could indicate abnormality with Plan B’s use.

Contact your provider and verify if you are allergic to levonorgestrel, the active ingredient found in Plan B. Additionally, inform them if any food items affect how well the pill works or you have any other health issues such as breast cancer that might interfere.