The Morning After Pill (Plan B/Ella, etc.)
- Your Options Medical
- Jan 2, 2020
- 2 min read
Many people think that the Morning After Pill (MAP) also known as Plan B, is the abortion pill; however, this is not so. The MAP is taken shortly after intercourse while the Abortion Pill (RU-486/Plan C) is taken up to several weeks after. You can learn more about the Abortion Pill (RU-486/Plan C) in an earlier blog.
The Procedure:
The MAP is considered a method of contraception, which works to block a fertilized egg from implanting in the uterus. If this fails, the MAP works to thin the lining of the uterus to expel the fertilized egg from the uterus thus ending the pregnancy.
The Risks and Side Effects:
Nausea or Vomiting
Dizziness
Headache
Bleeding
Cramping or Lower Abdominal Pain
Fatigue
Breast Tenderness
Additionally, if you are taking birth control pills, the MAP can interact with and affect your cycle, possibly leading to many factors that might give you a false-negative result on a pregnancy test. The birth control pill is a medication that affects your hormones, as it functions by adding hormones into your body that then prevent ovulation. Consequently, the MAP also can affect the balance of your hormones; therefore, it can change your cycle and lead to other hormonal effects such as missed period, cramping, nausea, mood swings, etc.
If you think you might be pregnant, and this was not what you planned or wanted to happen, make an appointment at Your Options Medical. We can provide you with a no-cost, confidential medical screening which includes:
Ultrasound – To confirm accurate dating of your pregnancy.
To detect if there is a fetal heartbeat.
To assess for miscarriage indicators and if pregnancy is developing in the uterus (i.e. not an ectopic pregnancy).
Options Counseling – Time with trained staff and medical team to discuss the results of your ultrasound and the options available to you.
