Dear Yvonne:

I hear Plan B (the morning after pill, emergency contraception) is now available as 1 pill instead of 2.  Is it any different than the 2 pill kind?  Where can I get it?

-Plan B Curious

*****

Dear Plan B Curious:

It’s true: as of July 2009, Plan B now comes in a one pill dose.  It used to be given as 2 separate pills, and you could either a) take both pills at once, or b) take one pill ASAP and the second pill 12 hours later.  As you may imagine, this led to missed and late pills as well as lots of worrying.  We have counseled our clients for many years that it is completely OK, safe, and effective to take both Plan B doses at once.  Now, the manufacturer is packaging the medication as a one pill, one time dose.

The dose of medication (a form of progesterone called levonorgestrel) is 1.5 mg, which is equivalent to the dose contained in the old 2-pill pack.  Just like the 2-pill variety of emergency contraception, Plan B 1 Step can be taken up to 5 days after an unprotected encounter.  That gives you some time to get your medication, but also note that it is WAY more effective when taken ASAP.  So if you have a condom break this morning and take Plan B at noon today, that would reduce your risk of pregnancy a lot more than if you waited the full 5 days to take it.  By 5 days after unprotected sex, Plan B will only reduce your risk of pregnancy by 50%, but taking it within the first 12 hours will reduce your risk of pregnancy by 89%.

If you are 17 or older, you can get Plan B at most pharmacies without a prescription.  Yes, you can just walk into a pharmacy, speak to the pharmacist on duty, and receive Plan B.  You will have to pay for the Plan B out of pocket, and the cost of the medication varies from pharmacy to pharmacy.

If you are under 17, or if you cannot pay out of pocket to get Plan B, call us!  We can either see you for an appointment and give you Plan B here, or we can call it into a pharmacy for you to pick up.  Even though a prescription is not necessary, if you have a Family PACT card (otherwise known as HAP card or just “the green card”), it will pay for your Plan B if it is prescribed.  Don’t have a Family PACT card?  We can help you get one of those, too.  If you meet income requirements and are a resident of California, you may qualify to receive free family planning services through this program.

If you do not live near us but still need Plan B, you can find a pharmacy or a provider near you at http://ec.princeton.edu/.

Thanks for this great and timely question!

-YP

Posted on August 20th, 2009 by yvonne
Filed under: ask_yvonne