Are you facing an unplanned pregnancy and researching your options? It can be confusing to understand the difference between the Abortion Pill and Plan B. Essentially, Plan B works to prevent pregnancy within a narrow time window after sex. You take the abortion pill to terminate an existing pregnancy.
Read the rest of the article for a more thorough understanding of how each drug works and what your options are if you’re already pregnant.
How the Abortion Pill Works
The abortion pill is a series of two drugs: mifepristone and misoprostol. This abortion method is only FDA-approved up to 10 weeks (70 days) gestation (how far along you are in your pregnancy).
The first drug, mifepristone, blocks the hormone progesterone from reaching pregnancy.
Because this is an essential hormone for every pregnancy to continue to grow and develop, mifepristone ends the pregnancy.
Misoprostol is taken 24-48 hours later and induces cramping, so the uterus expels the fetus and pregnancy tissue. It’s normal to experience heavy cramping and vaginal bleeding during this step.
How Plan B Works
While the abortion pill only works after conception and a pregnancy has been established, you must take Plan B within 72 hours of unprotected sex. It works to delay or prevent fertilization, so pregnancy doesn’t begin.
Plan B does not protect you from an STI, nor should it be a regular part of your routine conception.
What Are My Options?
The first step is to confirm your pregnancy. You can schedule a no-cost lab-quality pregnancy test at Pathways PRC.
You can schedule a no-cost ultrasound if you’ve already received a positive pregnancy test. An ultrasound can determine the age of the pregnancy and eliminate health risks, such as an ectopic pregnancy.
We can then walk you through your options and provide an environment where you can discuss your options in a pressure-free environment. We are here to support and assist you in any way possible! Make an appointment today.