Morning After Pill

Emergency contraception is sometimes referred to as the morning after pill, or by their common brand names — “Plan B One-Step” and “ella.” Emergency contraception is a term used for drugs taken after sex with the intent to prevent pregnancy.

Many confuse the morning after pill with the abortion pill. The abortion pill terminates an existing and established pregnancy. The morning after pill, on the other hand, works to prevent conception, though in some cases it has the potential to cause a very early abortion.

Plan B One-Step – Morning After Pill

Plan B One-Step also is referred to as the morning after pill. It is designed to prevent pregnancy after a known or suspected contraceptive failure, unprotected intercourse, or forced sex. Plan B contains large amounts of levonorgestrel, a progestin hormone found in some birth control pills. Plan B One-Step may work by preventing the egg and sperm from meeting by delaying ovulation. It won’t disrupt an implanted pregnancy, but may prevent a newly formed life from implanting in the uterus.

Plan B One-Step consists of one pill taken up to 72 hours after sex.

Side effects may include but are not limited to: changes in your period, nausea, lower abdominal pain, fatigue, headache, and dizziness. If your period is more than a week late, you may be pregnant from a prior sexual encounter. Plan B One-Step should not be taken if you are pregnancy or used as a routine form of birth control.

There is evidence that Plan B One-Step use may increase the risk for ectopic (tubal) pregnancy, a potentially life-threatening condition. Women who have severe abdominal pain may have an ectopic (tubal) pregnancy, and should seek immediate medical attention.

It is reported that Plan B One-Step may prevent an average of 84% of expected pregnancies.

There is much that is unknown about Plan B One-Step at a medical level, including the following:

  • Dependence on the drug
  • Overdose
  • The effect it could have on women who have not started their period
  • The impact it could have on postmenopausal women
  • Liver disease
  • Kidney disease
  • The way it interacts with other drugs
  • Its ability to cause a higher rate of pregnancy in Chinese women

ella

ella is an FDA-approved emergency contraceptive for use within 5 days of unprotected sex or contraceptive failure, which is why it is sometimes referred to as “the week after pill.” It is estimated that taking ella will reduce the number of expected pregnancies from 5.5% to 2.2%.

Pregnancy from a previous sexual encounter should be ruled out before taking ella. It is to be used only once during a menstrual cycle.

ella may reduce the chance of pregnancy by preventing or postponing ovulation. It also may work by preventing a fertilized egg from implanting in the uterus, which is a very early abortion.  ella is a chemical cousin to the abortion pill (RU486). Both share the progesterone-blocking effect of disrupting the embryo’s attachment to the uterine lining of the womb, causing death.

The most common adverse reactions of ella include:

  • Headache
  • Nausea
  • Stomach (abdominal) pain
  • Menstrual cramps
  • Fatigue
  • Dizziness

Women who experience abdominal pain 3 to 5 weeks after using ella should seek immediate medical attention for an possible ectopic pregnancy.

Much is unknown about the drug, including its effect on women:

  • Who are under 18 or over 35 years of age
  • Taking with other hormonal contraception
  • Pregnant from a previous encounter
  • Taking ella repeatedly during the same cycle
  • Taking while breast-feeding.

Contact your local Pregnancy Center to discuss your situation with their trained staff. All pregnancy center services are free and confidential.

The information presented on this website is intended for general education purposes only and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional counseling and/or medical advice.

Sydna Masse

Hello, I am Sydna Massé Founder and CEO of Ramah International and the author of Her Choice to Heal. I'd love to keep in touch and include you in our prayer chain as we continue to serve abortion's wounded and those considering abortion.

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