Your reproductive choices matter very much, which is why we strive to provide the most accurate and up-to-date information concerning reproductive care. Many women wonder about the difference between Plan B and Plan C. Although similar in their names, Plan B and Plan C are not the same. The FDA classifies them separately. They are used at different times, are chemically different, and perform different functions within your body.
If you would like further information, schedule a consultation with us. Our nurses can provide personalized information, and our services are completely free and confidential.
Plan B
Plan B is also known as the “morning after pill”. Plan B is classified as an emergency contraceptive intended for use up to 72 hours after having unprotected sex or realizing that a different birth control method may have failed. The medication is less effective the longer you wait to take it. Plan B will not work if a fertilized embryo is implanted. This may be important to you if you feel that pregnancy starts with fertilization, rather than implantation.
Plan B is composed of a drug called Levonorgestrel, a synthetic hormone that “blunts the… hormone surge that occurs during the pre-ovulation stage.”1 This means that it attempts to prevent your body from releasing an egg and/or limits the egg’s viability and, therefore, inhibits the possibility of a pregnancy. If the egg has been released and fertilized, the Levonorgestrel also makes the uterine wall inhospitable for the embryo, thereby preventing implantation.2
Plan C
Plan C, also known as the “abortion pill,” will end an existing pregnancy up to ten weeks in gestation. It will not work if you are further than ten weeks along, which is why determining the gestational age is very important. It also will not work if the pregnancy is ectopic, making it even more important for your health to obtain an ultrasound before taking an abortion pill.
Our clinic will perform an ultrasound at no charge to any pregnant woman. Your health depends upon the information you gain from an ultrasound. Once you have gained information about your pregnancy, you can make an informed decision about your options. Real Choices Clinic does not offer or refer for abortion, but we do provide free, confidential, and medically accurate information about your pregnancy.
The FDA does not recommend buying Plan C online because online stores bypass safeguards designed to protect you. Plan C is serious, in that it can affect your health, and should be acquired from a medical professional.
The chemical makeup of Plan C is a drug called mifepristone, which is a “selective antagonist of progesterone,” meaning that it cuts off the supply of progesterone to the fetus. Progesterone is the hormone that helps keep the fetus alive and attached to the uterus. The effects of mifepristone may be reversed by receiving prescription progesterone. If you have started a medical abortion but would like to attempt to reverse course, you can ask for an Abortion Pill Reversal by calling 1-877-558-0333. This hotline operates 24/7. You can also visit: https://www.abortionpillreversal.com/
Further Information
Again, if you would like further information or clarification, schedule an appointment with us. We would love to be part of your support system. The information we provide is accurate and our services are completely free and confidential.
1. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/postmarket-drug-safety-information-patients-and-providers/plan-b-one-step-15-mg-levonorgestrel-information
2. https://www.drugs.com/pro/levonorgestrel.html/ (see mechanism of action)
3. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/postmarket-drug-safety-information-patients-and-providers/information-about-mifepristone-medical-termination-pregnancy-through-ten-weeks-gestation
