Plan B
Before taking the Morning After Pill, you should understand what it is, how it works, and what it could mean to your health. Call or come in and one of our nurses will be happy to discuss it with you and advise you on your options.
Plan B is emergency contraception that is taken within the first 72 hours after having unprotected sex to prevent pregnancy. Plan B (also known as the Morning After Pill, Plan B One Step or Ella) is NOT the same as RU486 (the abortion pill). Plan B does not protect against HIV infection (AIDS) and other sexually transmitted diseases.
Plan B is believed to act as an emergency contraceptive principally by preventing ovulation and/or fertilization. In addition, it may inhibit implantation. It is not effective once the process of implantation begins, nor will it end an ectopic pregnancy.
Yes, you may experience several short-term side effects with Plan B, including nausea, irregular periods, cramping & abdominal pain, fatigue, headache, dizziness, & breast tenderness. The cramping & abdominal pain can mask the symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy, which requires emergency care.
RU486
Before taking RU486, or the Abortion Pill, you should understand what it is, how it works, and what it could mean to your health. Call or come in and one of our nurses will be happy to discuss it with you and advise you on your options.
You should not get a medical abortion if you have high blood pressure, heart disease, a bleeding problem, anemia, uncontrolled diabetes, or IUD in place. It will not end an ectopic pregnancy; so get an ultrasound to help determine if the pregnancy is in your uterus.
RU-486, also known as “the abortion pill,” is an abortion method used to terminate an early pregnancy. It’s actually a combination of two drugs — mifepristone and misoprostol — that cause early abortion. Must be taken within 70 days (10 weeks) of when your last period began. Pills must be prescribed by a healthcare professional (do not order online: it’s not legal to sell online and the quality of the medication is not reliable). It is NOT the same as Plan B.
At the first doctor visit, you will take 3 mifepristone pills, that contain a drug that cuts off the blood supply of food & nutrients to the developing embryo.
2 days later, you will return to the doctor to take another drug, misoprostol, which causes your uterus to contract and expel the embryo.
2 weeks later, a third visit to the doctor should confirm that the abortion is complete, but 1-4% of women will still need a surgical abortion to terminate the pregnancy. This would mean more visits.
The FDA says that the abortion pill can have serious side effects & complications, such as heavy bleeding & serious infections. Other side effects include headache, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, weakness, high fever, and cramping.
Abortion, whether by medication or surgical, is always a medical procedure with medical risks, and it's important to know the facts and have the information you need to make a fully informed decision. We can help you with 3 main steps you need to take before having an abortion.
