Chances of Plan B Working: How Effective is the Morning After Pill?
How Effective is the Morning After Pill?
It is important to keep in mind that Plan B is considered to be a very effective method of contraception. The Plan B One-Step website boasts that seven out of eight women who use this backup method of birth control will not get pregnant. It also boasts an 89 percent effectiveness rating, as it lowers the risk of pregnancy from eight percent to one percent. Of course, it is important to keep in mind that the Morning After Pill should not be used as your primary method of birth control. Plan B is not as effective as the birth control pill.
How Soon After Sex Should You Take Plan B?
Note that how soon you take the Morning After Pill after sexual intercourse will determine how effective it is at preventing pregnancy. Plan B should be taken within three days (72 hours) of the incident that you are trying to prevent. Though it is okay to take it up to five days after having sex, it is important to keep in mind that the effectiveness of the Morning After Pill is thought to drastically decrease after three days.
The sooner that you can take Plan B, the more likely you will be to reduce the risk of pregnancy. The effectiveness of this backup method of contraception is thought to decrease over time. It is highly recommended that you take the Morning After Pill within 24 hours.
Will the Morning After Pill Prevent Future Pregnancy?
It is important to keep in mind that Plan B will not prevent future pregnancy. If you have unprotected sexual intercourse after you have already taken the Morning After Pill, it will not prevent you from conceiving. This method of contraception does not work the same way as the birth control pill. If you experience another "accident" again in the future, you can take Plan B again. That said, it should not be used on a regularly basis if preventable.
Sources:
Plan B One-Step, "Frequently Asked Questions."
WebMD.com, "Plan B: 11 Questions, 11 Answers."
Published by Jody Morse - Featured Contributor in Health & Wellness
Jody Morse has a B.A. in English from East Stroudsburg University. As a sufferer of endometriosis, she enjoys writing about women's health issues. She has worked as an assistant wedding DJ, and is dabbling i... View profile
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