Emergency contraceptives for survivors

Severe reactions to Plan B® are uncommon. Temporary side effects, however, may occur and usually pass within 24 hours. The most common side effects include nausea, abdominal pain, fatigue, headache, dizziness, breast tenderness, vomiting, diarrhea, and irregular menstrual bleeding. Less common reactions are migraine or severe headache, lower abdominal pain, painful menstruation, and vaginal discharge. If your period is more than a week late or if these symptoms continue for more than 48 hours or are severe, see a healthcare professional.

Be sure to contact a healthcare professional immediately if you experience any of the following serious side effects: itching and rash, cramping or severe pain in your stomach or belly before your next normal period, uterine hemorrhage, vaginal hemorrhage. If you vomit within two hours of taking Plan B®, you may need to take another dose.

The sooner you take Plan B®, the more effective it is. It can prevent pregnancy if taken within 72 hours and preferably within 12 hours of unprotected sex. If you take it within 24 hours of unprotected sex, it is 95% effective. If you take it between 48 and 72 hours of unprotected sex, the efficacy rate is 61%. Note that if Plan B® is used on more than one occasion, the cumulative pregnancy rate will be higher.

Plan B® should only be used in emergencies and not on a regular basis. It can also be used more than once. However, if Plan B® is used on more than one occasion, the cumulative pregnancy rate will be higher.

No. Plan B® does not work if you are already pregnant (a fertilized egg has attached to the wall of the uterus). So if you take Plan B®, you will not be terminating a pregnancy.

If you already have a confirmed pregnancy, you should not use Plan B® because it will not be effective.