5 Things You Need to Know About Plan B

1. Prevent Pregnancy With Plan B

Plan B is also referred to by many medical professionals as emergency contraception or "EC." Plan B prevents pregnancy after a woman has had unprotected sex or after another form of birth control has failed, like a condom breaking during sex. Plan B contains a high dose of a hormone called progestin that prevents both ovulation and fertilization from occurring. It works by preventing release of an egg and making it more difficult for sperm to get to the egg and attach to the inner wall of the womb.

2. Take Two

Plan B has two doses, which come in a tablet form. Take these tablets exactly as instructed by your pharmacist or doctor to best help prevent pregnancy. Take the first dose of Plan B as soon as possible after having unprotected sex, then take the second dose 12 hours after taking the first dose. Plan B is most effective if you take the first dose within 72 hours of having sex.

3. Emergencies Only

Plan B is meant to be used only in emergency situations where unprotected sex has accidentally occurred, so don't use Plan B as your regular form of contraception. If you need a regular form of birth control and don't want to rely on condoms or spermicides, talk to your doctor about a regular birth control pill or other prescription birth control. Remember that Plan B will prevent pregnancy but it can't protect you against the HIV virus or other sexually transmitted diseases.

4. Beware of Nausea

If you vomit within one hour of taking either dose of Plan B, call your doctor immediately. The dose of Plan B might not have had enough time to be absorbed into your body and your doctor may recommend that you start the process over again. If you do experience vomiting or nausea when taking either dose of Plan B, take it with some crackers or other mild food to help you keep the medicine down.

5. Bleeding Isn't Unusual

It's not uncommon for women who take Plan B to experience some light spotting or bleeding after taking it. Plan B can also affect the flow and timing of your next few periods. These side effects are common, but talk to your doctor if you're concerned about the amount of bleeding. Also contact your doctor if your period is more than seven days late. Your doctor might want you to take a pregnancy test to determine whether or not you're pregnant.