7 Misconceptions About Taking Plan B Emergency Contraception That Need To Become A Thing Of The Past

You can take all the precautions, be super diligent about taking your birth control every day... and yet, there’s always a chance when you jump into bed with someone that things won’t go as planned. The good news is, you have options to turn to in the case of a birth control mishap. One of those options is emergency contraception like Plan B One-Step, which helps prevent pregnancy before it starts after birth control failure or unprotected sex. While many may have heard of Plan B, what’s less obvious is how it works, who uses it, and other misconceptions about the “morning-after pill.” Ahead are some common myths about Plan B that need to be corrected.

Myth #1: Only Young Or Unmarried People Use Emergency Contraception

In a 2021 BDG Trends Group survey, 77% of women aged 18-34 responded that they agree that there’s a stigma associated with taking emergency contraception. The reality is, there is no “type” of person who uses emergency contraception. Anyone who is sexually active and able to get pregnant can have the need for and use emergency contraception. In the same survey, 55% of respondents said they have taken emergency contraception at some point in their life.

Myth #2: Plan B One-Step Is An Abortion Pill

Plan B One-Step works by temporarily delaying ovulation (the release of an egg from the ovary). That means no egg, no fertilization, no pregnancy. Plan B One-Step is only effective at helping prevent a pregnancy before it starts; it will not harm an existing pregnancy.

Myth #3: Taking Emergency Contraception Means You’re Irresponsible

Actually, it’s quite the opposite: Taking emergency contraception when you need it is showing responsibility and care for your sexual and reproductive health and choices. This myth stems from some erroneous stigmas surrounding who uses emergency contraception and why. The truth is, lots of different women use emergency contraception for lots of different reasons. All of them are valid.

Myth #4: You Can Only Take Emergency Contraception A Certain Number Of Times In Your Life

A persistent myth about emergency contraception is that it can only be taken a certain number of times. You may have heard a few different things before about the limits on taking emergency contraceptives, but let’s set the record straight: The idea that it can only taken a certain number of times is incorrect. Plan B One-Step does not have a limit for how many times it can be used safely. That said, it is not intended to be used as a primary form of birth control. Plan B is, as the name implies, a backup plan. Take emergency contraception only if your regular birth control method fails or if you have unprotected sex and want to help prevent pregnancy. It is safe (and advised) to resume your regular birth control method right after taking Plan B One-Step.

Myth #5: Plan B One-Step Requires A Prescription

Plan B One-Step is available right off the shelf (it does not require a prescription), has no age requirement, and can be picked up from a variety of retailers across the country. You can pick it up for yourself in the family planning aisle. Plan B One-Step is also available to order online, but it is important to note that Plan B One-Step must be taken within 72 hours of having unprotected sex, and the sooner it is taken, the better it works. Ordering online is a great option for future use as a backup plan, but if you have already had unprotected sex, the best way to get it is the one that is quickest.

Myth #6: Taking Emergency Contraception Can Affect Your Fertility Or Ability To Have Kids In The Future

Plan B One-Step can have some side effects, such as changes in your period, nausea, or headache, but they are temporary and mild, and not everyone experiences side effects after taking it. Plan B One-Step stays in your body for a short period of time and will not affect future fertility.

Myth #7: You Can Only Take Emergency Contraception The Morning After Unprotected Sex

While Plan B One-Step is often referred to as “the morning-after pill,” that’s technically a misnomer. Emergency contraception can actually be taken any time of day. The important thing to remember is that is must be used within 72 hours of having unprotected sex, and that the sooner you take it, the better it works.

There still is some work to do to destigmatize taking emergency contraception. According to the 2021 BDG Trends Group survey, one in three people have lied to their family members about their birth control usage, and one in five lied to their closest friends about it. The best thing you can do is learn about your options so you don’t panic when and if a situation arises. The more you know about options like Plan B One-Step, the more empowered you will be to use a method that works best for you. It’s true that when you’re sexually active, things don’t always go as planned. Birth control can fail and unprotected sex can and does happen — but just remember, neither has to result in unintended pregnancy.