You may be wondering about the difference between the abortion pill and the Plan B pill if you suspect you are facing an unplanned pregnancy.
The short answer is that the Plan B pill can be used as a birth control measure after your regular birth control fails, while the abortion pill is used to terminate a healthy pregnancy.
In order to protect your health, understanding how each drug works and whether it is the best option for you is very important.
What is Plan B?
The Plan B pill, commonly referred to as “the morning-after pill,” uses a drug called levonorgestrel. The drug is typically used in the first 72 hours after unprotected sex or when you suspect that your usual birth control measures have failed.
Levonorgestrel works by preventing your ovaries from releasing an egg into your uterus. If an egg is already present, the drug will also irritate the lining of the uterus to decrease the chance of a fertilized egg implanting and growing on your uterine wall.
As with any drug, there are side effects to the Plan B pill, which can include:
- Nausea or vomiting
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Breast tenderness
- Bleeding between periods or heavier menstrual bleeding
- Lower abdominal pain or cramps
What is the Abortion Pill?
The abortion pill, also known as medical abortion, is used to terminate a pregnancy that is already present.
A medical abortion is a series of two different drugs, mifepristone and misoprostol.
Mifepristone is used as the first dose and acts to block the hormone progesterone. After the embryo detaches from the uterine wall, usually within 24 to 48 hours, misoprostol is used.
Misoprostol causes your uterus to contract and expel the embryo and associated pregnancy tissue from your body.
A medical abortion is a serious procedure, and there are known risks that you need to be aware of. These risks include:
- Incomplete abortion
- An ongoing pregnancy
- Heavy and prolonged bleeding
- Infection
- Fever
- Digestive system discomfort
It is also important to know that the FDA only recommends a medical abortion be used in the first 10 weeks of pregnancy.
Protect Your Health
Knowing which option is best for you requires getting all the details you can.
A medical-grade pregnancy test and an ultrasound scan can be an effective way to confirm a pregnancy and learn important details about it.
This information will give you the facts you need to make the best decision for your health.
Options Care Center offers a free pre-abortion consultation that includes a pregnancy test and follow-up ultrasound scan if necessary. Our staff will also answer your questions and discuss all the options available to you.
Contact us today to schedule your free and confidential appointment.
