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For the last two years, the use of Emergency Contraceptives or “morning after pills” has been increasingly on the rise. The most popular one: Plan B also has a generic form called Next Choice.
However, some of our users seem to be confused as to what it actually does and what side effects it has.

Plan B is a backup plan that helps prevent pregnancy after birth control failure. The sooner you take emergency contraception, the better it works.

With Plan B, you have up to 120 hours (5 days) to prevent a pregnancy. Plan B One-Step is not the abortion pill and it isn’t a substitute for routine birth control. Although, you have 5 days, the Plan B One Step website only advertises that you have up to 3 days to take the pill because, again, the sooner you take it, the better it works.

The most common question we get here at Empowher is: What are the side effects of Plan B or Next Choice?
Our reader, Anon, wanted to know if she was pregnant or if these were side effects of taking the morning after pill: https://www.empowher.com/community/ask/pregnancy-6

The most common side effect of Plan B is changing the woman’s cycle. This can be scary, particularly if it causes a late period on someone who is concerned about being pregnant. Here is a complete list of its side effects:
Side effects may include changes in your period, nausea, lower abdominal pain, fatigue, headache, dizziness and breast tenderness. Some women may have changes in their period, a heavier or lighter next period, or a period that is early or late. If your period is more than a week late, you may be pregnant. If you have severe abdominal pain, you may have an ectopic pregnancy, and should get immediate medical attention.
Another question from Annoymous (clever name!) is “Does Plan B cause infertility?”

Great question. Plan B does NOT cause infertility but it is important that we realize that it is not meant to be used as a contraceptive every time you have unprotected sex. Plan B was created as a last resort method, for when other methods of birth control failed. There is a lot of other great information on that post-- https://www.empowher.com/community/ask/does-plan-b-cause-infertility

For more information Emergency Contraceptive, please visit:
https://www.empowher.com/sex-amp-relationships/content/emergency-contraception-update-2011
https://www.empowher.com/sexual-well-being/content/plan-b-finally-has-some-competition

April 22, 2011 - 11:43am

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