If you are facing an unplanned pregnancy, or suspect you might be pregnant, you likely feel overwhelmed and have questions. You may ask yourself what options are available and the difference between them.
One of those common questions is whether there is a difference between the “abortion pill” and the Plan B pill.
The answer is that Plan B is used as a birth control measure after a woman’s normal birth control method has failed, while the abortion pill terminates a viable pregnancy.
What Is Plan B?
Plan B refers to the drug called levonorgestrel. It is also commonly known as “the morning-after pill” in reference to its use to prevent a pregnancy within 72 hours of unprotected sex, or when other birth control measures have failed.
Plan B prevents your ovaries from releasing an egg into your uterus. However, if an egg is already present, the drug creates irritation in the lining of the uterine wall, decreasing the chance that a fertilized egg can attach to the uterus and begin to grow.
Just like any other medication, there are known side effects to Plan B, which can include:
- Nausea or vomiting
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Breast tenderness
- Bleeding between periods or heavier menstrual bleeding
- Lower abdominal pain or cramps
What Is the Abortion Pill?
The abortion pill is actually a combination of two drugs that are taken at separate times to induce abortion in an otherwise viable pregnancy.
The first drug taken is called mifepristone, which blocks your body from producing progesterone, a hormone typically called the pregnancy hormone. Without this hormone, the lining of your uterus thins, and a fertilized egg cannot remain attached to your uterus and grow.
The second drug, called misoprostol, is then taken after the pregnancy detaches from the uterus. Misoprostol causes your uterus to contract, expelling the pregnancy from your body through the vagina.
A medical abortion is considered a medical procedure and carries a chance of risks, such as:
- Incomplete abortion
- An ongoing pregnancy
- Heavy and prolonged bleeding
- Infection
- Fever
- Digestive system discomfort
It’s also important to know that according to the FDA, a medical abortion can also only be prescribed in the first 10 weeks of pregnancy.
Getting the Answers You Need
The trained medical staff at Chester County Connect Care are here for you. Using a medical-grade pregnancy test, we can confirm your pregnancy and provide a follow-up ultrasound scan, all at no cost to you.
Confirmation of your pregnancy and the information from an ultrasound scan can provide important facts, like the age, location, and viability of your pregnancy. These details are vital in helping you know what options are available and empowering you to make the best decision for your health and future.
Our team will also take time to listen to your concerns, answer any questions you might have, and discuss all the available options.
You deserve to get the answers you need about your pregnancy. Contact us today to schedule your free and confidential appointment.