- The FDA approved it as the first progestin-only emergency contraceptive available in the U.S on July 28, 1999.
- The FDA announced its approval of the sale of Plan B over the counter to women and men 18 and older on August 24, 2006.
- In November 2006, Barr Pharmaceuticals began shipping nonprescription packages of Plan B to pharmacies across the country.
The name "morning-after pill" can lead to some confusion since Plan B emergency contraception actually consists of 2 pills which do not necessarily have to be taken the morning after unprotected sex occurs.
As a precaution, those girls under 18 can inquire with their doctor about obtaining a prescription for EC to have just in case an emergency occurs. This way, these girls will already have the prescription to use immediately and will not need to wait to get a medical appointment.
- Nausea and vomiting – although the risk for this is much lower with progestin-only EC (versus combination EC). Nausea occurs approximately 23% of the time while vomiting happens in approximately 6% of progestin-only EC users.
- A woman may experience breast tenderness due to EC
- Dizziness and/or headaches are also common
- EC may change the amount, duration, and/or timing of a female’s next period about 10-15% of the time. This side effect is typically minor, and menstruation will usually occur a few days earlier or later than anticipated.
- Frequent use of EC may cause periods to become irregular and unpredictable.
- Emergency contraception, like other contraceptives, may decrease the risk of ectopic pregnancy. However, to be cautious, a woman should inform her healthcare provider that she had taken emergency contraception should she become pregnant following its use, so her doctor can test for the existence of an ectopic pregnancy.
If started within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse, Plan B reduces the risk of pregnancy by 89%. Of every 100 women who use this method, only 1 woman will become pregnant.
Plan B EC will not continue to prevent pregnancy during the rest of a woman’s cycle, so additional contraceptive methods should be used.
- One pack of Plan B can range from $10-$45
