Side Effects of Plan B Pills

You want to make sure that having sex is as safe as possible, but even the best intentions sometimes aren't enough. A condom breaks, a diaphragm slips, you forget to take your pill just that one day. If safe sex suddenly becomes unsafe, the Plan B contraceptive pill is available to prevent pregnancy. It's 89 percent effective at preventing pregnancy if taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex. Unfortunately, there are some side effects involved with Plan B, but there are ways to ease them and the discomfort is outweighed by other risks.

Identification

"Plan B"--the brand name of the most common type of morning-after pill--is a form of contraception that prevents pregnancy if taken up to five days after unprotected sex (although the sooner you take it after unprotected sex, the more effective it is). It contains the hormone levonorgestrel, which thickens the cervical mucus, making it harder for sperm to get through the cervical opening, and which may also keep a fertilized egg from attaching to the wall of the uterus. Plan B is not the "abortion pill." There is another pill called mifepristone that induces abortion--removing an embryo from the wall of the uterus--but Plan B won't do that.

Process

If you want to get Plan B and are over the age of 18, it's available at most pharmacies for a comparatively low cost (you may want to stock up so you can take the Plan B pill as soon as possible in future). You'll have to go to the pharmacist's counter and show ID. If you're under age 18, you'll need a prescription. Once you have the Plan B pill, it's time to take it. Calling Plan B the "morning-after" pill is slightly misleading, as there are actually two doses to take, 12 hours apart.

Side Effects

The most common side effects of the Plan B pill are gastrointestinal. Nausea and vomiting are the most common of the gastrointestinal side effects, and diarrhea and abdominal pain may also occur. Other possible Plan B side effects include breast tenderness, headache, tiredness and dizziness. Your mood may also be affected by the hormones. After taking Plan B, some women experience irregular periods--either lighter or heavier than usual.

Treatment

There are ways to help prevent or lessen Plan B side effects. Taking the first dose on a full stomach or taking an anti-nausea medication, such as Dramamine, before taking the first dose can help prevent nausea and vomiting. Make sure that you know whether your anti-nausea medication also causes drowsiness. If you feel very sick after taking the first pill, you can take the second pill as a suppository--inserting it into the vagina.

Warning

While Plan B is generally a safe and effective (if possibly uncomfortable) form of birth control, there are some instances in which Plan B isn't appropriate. If you know that you're allergic to levonorgestrel, don't use Plan B (levonorgestrel is also used in some birth control pills, in the contraceptive implant Norplant, and in the hormonal intrauterine device Mirena). Don't use Plan B while pregnant--as noted above, it's not an abortion pill. Plan B should also not be used as a regular form of birth control, as it can cause irregular periods, doesn't shield you from STDs and is expensive.