Does Plan B Terminate a Pregnancy?

When your regular birth control method fails, such as a broken condom – or missed, like a birth control dose, it may cause extreme stress and you are not prepared for an unplanned pregnancy. In such cases, you can still prevent a pregnancy by taking the Plan B emergency contraceptive. However, there is a huge confusion among many – does Plan B terminate a pregnancy that is already present?

Let us answer this query in greater detail within the blog:

What Is Plan B?

Known as the morning-after pill, Plan B contains levonorgestrel as the active ingredient. This synthetic progesterone is a part of birth control pills. But Plan B has a higher dose, about 1.5mg of this hormone, granting protection against pregnancy after a failed contraceptive or unprotected sex, but only if taken within 3 days or up to 72 hours of the episode. If time exceeds beyond this period, Plan B does not provide the required ‘safeguard’.

How Plan B Works

Plan B delays ovulation, suppressing the ovaries from releasing mature eggs. Since a sperm can stay active for up to 5 days in the female reproductive tract, with no egg available, it cannot fertilize anything. The sperm loses viability when ovulation resumes, which means Plan prevents the egg from meeting sperm successfully.

Does Plan B Terminate a Pregnancy?

So, does Plan B terminate a pregnancy or just offers immediate effect of emergency contraception? Well, the answer is, the mechanism of the morning-after pill, which is designed to work before fertilization and implantation. It does not have the potential to function as an abortifacient, because Plan B cannot disrupt an existing pregnancy i.e. an already fertilized egg, and embryo attached to the endometrial lining.

What Happens If You Take Plan B While Already Pregnant?

If you are pregnant and use Plan B, then there is no harm to the embryo and pregnancy development. The medicine will not lead to an abortion or miscarriage. Also, it is not responsible for any birth risks or defects. So, consult a healthcare professional if you suspect a pregnancy, but have taken Plan B pills. Just remember it will not undo the pregnancy.

Difference Between Emergency Contraception and Abortion Pills

Here are some distinction points between emergency contraception and medication abortion:

· The major difference between Plan B and abortion pills is the purpose. While emergency contraceptive prevents a pregnancy before it even begins, a medical abortion is designed to end an early existing pregnancy.

· The active components in Plan B are Levonorgestrel, while that in abortion pills is Mifepristone and Misoprostol.

· You need to take Plan B within 72 hours of an unprotected sex, while medical abortion is valid up to 10-11 weeks of pregnancy.

· Plan B stops the ovaries from releasing mature eggs. Abortion pills block progesterone hormone needed to continue pregnancy. They are also responsible for prostaglandin activity to cause contractions in the uterus, expelling the conception products.

Effectiveness of Plan B

Plan B has a higher chance of protecting against a pregnancy occurrence when taken within the initial 24 hours of an unprotected intercourse. It is effective up to 72 hours, but not beyond that. But it may not work if ovulation has already taken place now of an unprotected sex. So, it does not offer 100% protection. In some cases, people with BMI over 25 or 30 may also considerably have a lower chance of success from Plan B usage.

Possible Side Effects of Plan B

Plan side effects are temporary and include nausea, vomiting, changes in menstrual cycle (lighter than usual bleeding, spotting between periods, next period could be heavier / earlier / delayed, etc.), breast tenderness, fatigue, dizziness, or mild cramping causing lower abdominal pain.

When to See a Healthcare Provider

While Plan B safety is assured, in some cases, seeking professional consultation is required if there is:

· Severe abdominal pain, a sign of a pregnancy outside the uterus.

· Multiple episodes of vomiting after taking the pill.

· If there is a delay in period for over a week after using Plan B medication.

· In case there are allergic reactions such as difficulty breathing, swelling, hives, etc.

Common Myths and Misconceptions

Here are some Plan B myths with their reported facts:

· The confusion between Plan B and regular birth control is also ripe. Many have a misconception that an emergency contraceptive can be taken as a regular birth control pill. However, it is incorrect. You must only use Plan B as a backup way to prevent a pregnancy and never as a daily contraceptive pill.

· The myth goes that Plan B and abortion pills work the same, and terminate a pregnancy. However, the morning-after pill does not detach an implanted embryo from the uterine wall.

· Another myth is that Plan B causes infertility for the long-term. However, the fact is that emergency contraception just temporarily delays ovulation. It has no impact on future pregnancy or fertility in the long run.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some FAQs about – does Plan B terminate a pregnancy or work only as emergency contraceptive:

1. If I am already, will Plan B work?

If ovulation is already underway, it means a mature egg could have been released. This raises the risk of pregnancy and Plan B is less likely to prevent a pregnancy in this case. However, not many can perfectly understand when they ovulate, so Plan B is a one-shot to safeguard against an unplanned pregnancy.

2. Can Plan B cause a miscarriage?

If you are pregnant and have used Plan B medicine, it will not result in a miscarriage or abortion because it does not work against an active pregnancy.

3. How soon should I test for pregnancy after Plan B?

Wait for at least 3 weeks post Plan B intake for a pregnancy test, as it would give you a more reliable result.

Conclusion

Going through all the above provided medical information, it is easy to answer – does Plan B terminate a pregnancy or not. The short answer is, no, the morning-after pill does not offer any protection against an established pregnancy. However, it works effectively for up to 3 days or 72 hours of unprotected intercourse or failed birth control, to prevent a pregnancy.