Are you facing an unplanned pregnancy? We know it’s not easy right now, but you are stronger than you know.
If you are considering abortion, it’s important to understand the difference between the abortion pill and plan B. They are completely different, one is used to terminate an existing pregnancy, and the other to prevent pregnancy.
Should you take the Plan B pill? The Abortion pill? Is there a difference?
What is the Abortion Pill?
The abortion pill, also known as medical abortion, must be taken within the first 10 weeks of pregnancy, is a series of pills that are taken orally at home.
Mifepristone is taken first, and then about a day later misoprostol follows. These pills block the hormone progesterone, which is needed for a pregnancy to continue. Within a couple of hours or days, your body will essentially go into labor and will expel the contents of your uterus.
Common side effects of the abortion pill include nausea, cramping, vomiting, and headache.
What is Plan B?
Often called “the morning after” pill, Plan B is a drug that must be taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex. It does not end a pregnancy, but does help prevent it.
According to the New York Times, “(Plan B) contains levonorgestrel, which mainly works by stopping the release of an egg from the ovaries. It may also prevent sperm from fertilizing an egg; or if fertilization has already occurred, it may prevent the embryo from attaching to the uterus.”
Mayo Clinic advises that Plan B should not be used routinely, since it is not as effective as other forms of contraception, does not protect against sexually transmitted infections, and can cause adverse health effects. Those include:
- Vaginal bleeding is not associated with a menstrual period
- Vomiting and nausea
- Dizziness
- Cramping
- Tiredness
- Breast tenderness
Next Steps
Taking Plan B or the Abortion Pill are not your only options, even in a landscape that is now largely restrictive for abortion. We find that the most important part of this process is to first determine if you are pregnant and if the pregnancy is viable by performing an ultrasound. For this reason, we start all appointments with a pregnancy test. For more information on how we can help, or to schedule your no cost appointment contact us today.