With any drugs you consider taking, you want to be aware of their intended use and side effects. Understanding the difference between the abortion pill (medical abortion) and Plan B is essential.
Embrace is committed to providing factual information about Plan B, your pregnancy options, and more. You deserve the facts.
What Does Plan B Do?
Plan B is not an abortion drug or part of an abortion procedure. Also called the “morning-after pill,” it is taken within 72 hours after sexual intercourse to prevent pregnancy.
Plan B delays or prevents ovulation, but it isn’t 100% effective. No research suggests it affects the implantation of a fertilized egg.
Common side effects of this drug include:
- Fatigue
- Nausea or vomiting
- Breast tenderness
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Lower abdominal pain or cramps
- Bleeding between periods or heavier menstrual periods
Is the Abortion Pill Birth Control?
The abortion pill, or medical abortion, is not a birth control method. Two drugs are used to end a pregnancy. Mifepristone blocks progesterone, and misoprostol causes uterine contractions that expel the pregnancy and associated tissue from the body.
The abortion pill is FDA-approved through ten weeks gestation. If you take the drugs used for this process, you’ll have abdominal cramping and vaginal bleeding. Some women can also have a headache, chills, fever, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting.
Taking the abortion pill drugs is a serious decision. Though rare, risks can occur, including:
- Infection
- Fever
- Digestive system discomfort
- Heavy, prolonged bleeding
- An incomplete abortion (which may require surgical treatment)
- An ongoing pregnancy (if the drugs don’t work)
Unexpectedly Pregnant?
Before taking any drug, you should speak with a medical provider, review your eligibility, and ensure you understand the drug’s purpose.
Embrace can help if you have an unexpected pregnancy. Before making a pregnancy decision, Embrace offers no-cost services like lab-quality pregnancy testing, a limited ultrasound, and more. Get the answers you need and protect your health before making a decision.
Contact Embrace today to make an appointment.