Plan B Substitutes: Additional Emergency Contraceptive Techniques Presented
Drug stores saw a sharp spike in demand for emergency contraceptives like Plan B when word spread that the Supreme Court had overruled Roe>, the statute protecting a person’s constitutional right to a safe and legal abortion.
CVS, Rite Aid, and Walmart all took action to restrict purchases of Plan B and related medications in reaction to the spike. However, as soon as sales “returned to normal,” CVS removed the purchase limit for the medications.
Although Plan B’s supply may vary according to demand, it’s crucial to understand that there are other emergency contraceptive options than the well-known medication.
Learn about the most popular forms of emergency contraception, their mechanisms, and the potential beneficiaries of each.
Does the B Plan End? What You Should Know About Storage and Shelf Life
Ella
What? Ulipristal acetate is marketed under the brand name Ella and comes in a single 30-milligram tablet meant for oral consumption.
How>: According to Jamie Alan, PhD, an associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology at Michigan State University, Ella is “a progesterone modulator,” Health was informed. “It works by delaying or inhibiting ovulation and affecting the endometrium [the inner layer of the uterus] making the environment ‘hostile’ for sperm.”
How>: Ella is only accessible with a prescription and is taken orally. Up to five days following unprotected intercourse, it can be helpful in preventing pregnancy; however, the earlier you take it, the more effective it is. According to data, taking Ella within 24 hours after unprotected intercourse lowers the risk of conception to 9 in 1,000, or 0.9%.
What>: Ella usually costs between $42 and $47%, depending on your health insurance coverage (if you have any), according to GoodRx. However, Healthcare.gov states that the medication ought to be covered at no cost to those with health insurance.
Other>: According to Planned Parenthood, Ella is the Animale Me Capsules effect best morning-after pill available and has been demonstrated to be more successful than alternative choices in individuals weighing more than 165 pounds, but in individuals weighing more than 195 pounds, the drug’s effectiveness may diminish.
Ella may potentially interact with a number of drugs, including those used for fungal infections, HIV, TB, and epilepsy.
Pills of Levonorgestrel
What> Plans B One-Step, Aftera, Next Choice, Take Action, and AfterPill are among the several emergency contraceptives in this broad category. Oral tablets containing the drugs are available, with dosages differing according on brand.
How>According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, levonorgestrel, a kind of progestin, is included in these tablets. It functions by stopping the release of an egg from the ovary or the fertilization of an egg by sperm. In order to avoid conception, it could also thin the uterine lining.
Lisa Masterson, MD, a board-certified ob/gyn in Santa Monica, California, told Health that levonorgestrel tablets “work primarily by delaying or preventing ovulation, but do not end a pregnancy that is implanted.”
How> Since these drugs are frequently over-the-counter (OTC), you can usually find them in the shelves of your neighborhood drugstore or large chain store. “Unlike Ella, they don’t need a prescription,” Dr. Masterson remarked.
Each brand has different instructions, but generally speaking, you’ll take a pill orally as soon as you’ve had unprotected intercourse. Planned Parenthood states that using these drugs within three days of unprotected intercourse can reduce your chance of becoming pregnant by 75 to 89%. According to ACOG, using levonorgestrel tablets within five days results in “moderately effective” outcomes.
What>: Brand-specific pricing varies, but according to GoodRx, Plan B One-Step and comparable levonorgestrel pills typically retail for around $23.
Other>Like Ella, women with larger frames—more especially, those who weigh more than 165 pounds—should avoid these drugs. Clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Lauren Streicher, MD, told Health that it “doesn’t work as well in these women.” “People need to be aware of that.”
Should You Keep Plan B on Hand?
Paragard
Paragard is an IUD made of copper. It works for up to ten years to prevent conception and is hormone-free.
How>: The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) states that the copper IUD is generally used as a more regular type of contraception and works primarily by preventing sperm from fertilizing the egg. With a 99.9% success rate in preventing pregnancy, it is the most effective emergency contraceptive method.
How?The copper IUD must be implanted by a medical expert within five days after engaging in unprotected sexual activity when used as emergency contraception. After that, you can have the IUD removed whenever you wish to become pregnant and utilize it as long-term birth control.
What>: According to Healthcare.gov, the IUD should be free if you have health insurance and are in-network. On the other hand, the average cost without insurance is $1,043 according to GoodRx.
Other> Since Paragard has no weight restriction, it functions the same way in all body types. However, it’s not the most convenient way to use emergency contraception. “Insertion can be painful, and it is more likely to be painful if you have not had a child,” Alan stated. It’s also among the most difficult emergency contraceptive methods to obtain. “Even if you want to get an IUD, getting in to see someone quickly can be tough,” said Dr. Streicher.
Hormonal Birth Control Tablets in Combination
What>These are progestin-and estrogen-containing tablets that are frequently used as a daily form of birth control. However, ACOG said that they can be used as an emergency contraceptive when taken in larger doses.
How>: Combination birth control tablets can delay ovulation and prevent conception if used in higher-than-usual dosages.
How>You must take combination hormonal birth control tablets as soon as possible, up to five days after engaging in unprotected sexual activity, in order to utilize them as an emergency method of contraception. Dr. Streicher said, “You take two doses, 12 hours apart.”
According to Dr. Masterson, the dose of the real pills you have (or will obtain) will determine how many you need to take. “You may need to consult your physician to know how many pills to take depending on the brand,” she stated.
What>: According to Healthcare.gov, if you are covered by health insurance, there shouldn’t be any costs to you. The price varies greatly depending on the brand you choose if you don’t have health insurance.
Other>Dr. Streicher noted that this might be a simple alternative to employ if you already have a supply of combination hormonal birth control tablets at home. However, ACOG claims that it is also the least effective kind of emergency contraception. Additionally, Alan advised against using this procedure if you are nursing.
Contact a healthcare professional if you require emergency contraception and you’re unsure about what to do. They should be able to provide you with specific advice. Don’t wait too long, though. Dr. Streicher advised acting as quickly as possible to use emergency contraception.
