How Plan B Works

What Plan B is:

• Emergency contraception that works by temporarily delaying ovulation

  Similar to birth control pills, Plan B works by temporarily delaying the release of an egg from the ovary, so there’s no egg to meet the sperm. No egg, no fertilization, no pregnancy.

• A backup plan that won’t impact your ability to get pregnant later on

  Not ready right now, but think you might want to get pregnant in the future? Taking Plan B now to help prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex won’t hurt your ability to get pregnant in the future.

• Available for purchase at all major retail stores—no ID or Rx required

  You can find Plan B yourself in the family planning aisle. There’s no ID or Rx needed, and no age requirement to purchase.

What Plan B isn’t:

• Not regular birth control

  Since Plan B only stays in your body for a short amount of time, it’s not meant to be used as a regular birth control method. You can and should immediately continue taking your regular birth control—or start using one—after taking Plan B.

• Not an abortion pill

  It won’t affect an existing pregnancy.

• Won’t protect against HIV/AIDS or other STDs

  Plan B will help prevent pregnancy before it starts, but it won’t prevent any sexually transmitted diseases. You should always use a barrier method, like condoms, to prevent STDs.

Plan B is safe and effective

Plan B shouldn’t be used as a regular form of birth control, as it only stays in your body for a short amount of time and works to help prevent pregnancy after only one instance of unprotected sex. If you find that you are using emergency contraception frequently, talk to your doctor about finding a regular birth control method that’s right for you—as regular birth control pills are more effective.

Keep in mind: Plan B won’t interfere with your regular birth control methods or make them any less effective.