People sometimes think the abortion pill and Plan B (or the “morning-after pill”) are the same. They aren’t. And we have women ask every week about the differences. We want you to know the facts!
Plan B
If you have had unprotected sex, you can take Plan B for up to 72 hours afterward. It is important to be aware of whether you have ovulated before taking Plan B. Plan B is only effective before conception. However, it is not 100 percent effective in preventing pregnancy.
If you take Plan B, you should count on a change in your menstrual cycle no matter what. Other possible side effects are: fatigue, the difference in your menstrual flow, and tender breasts.
Finally, Plan B does not protect you against STDs. If you think you might have an STD, it is important to know your STD status as you consider options. At Wellspring, we can both treat and test for common STDs at no cost to you.
Abortion Pill
What is commonly called the abortion pill (RU 486) is two pills.
The first pill (mifepristone) cuts off the progesterone your body produces to support pregnancy. The second pill (misoprostol) induces labor to expel the pregnancy from your uterus. It is important to know how far along your pregnancy is because the abortion pill is only available to women up to 70 days gestation. This is one reason ultrasounds are so important: you need to know whether you qualify for the abortion pill.
You will take the first pill at the clinic and the second one 24-48 hours later. Abortion is completed at home with no direct medical supervision. After taking these drugs, you may experience moderate to severe cramping, heavy bleeding, nausea, and headaches. The bleeding may continue up to 4-6 weeks after the abortion.
The difference between the two: Plan B prevents pregnancy and the abortion pill terminates an existing pregnancy.
Contact Wellspring for your no-cost, completely confidential appointment today.
