Facts about the new Plan B One-Step emergency contraception also known as the "Morning After Pill".

What is Plan B One-Step?
Plan B One-Step is an FDA approved emergency contraceptive that can be used to prevent pregnancy following unprotected intercourse or a known or suspected contraceptive failure (i.e. broken condom).

Plan B One-Step is NOT the same as RU-486 (the abortion pill). Plan B One-Step works like a birth control pill to prevent an unplanned pregnancy. If you take Plan B One-Step after you are already pregnant, it will not affect your pregnancy.

To obtain optimal efficiency, the first tablet should be taken as soon as possible within 72 hours of intercourse.

Is Plan B One-Step safe?
When used as directed, Plan B One-Step is safe for most women. There have been no serious complications associated with Plan B One-Step.

Common side effects include nausea, abdominal pain, fatigue, headache, and menstrual changes.

Women who are pregnant, have undiagnosed vaginal bleeding, or have an allergy to the product should not use Plan B One-Step.

Plan B One-Step cannot terminate an established pregnancy.

How Effective is Plan B One-Step?
Taken within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse, Plan B One-Step can, when used correctly, reduce the risk of pregnancy by 89% after a single act of unprotected sex.

Effectiveness declines as the Interval between intercourse and the start of treatment increases.

How Does Plan B One-Step work?
Plan B One-Step works like a regular birth control pill. It prevents pregnancy mainly by stopping the release of an egg from the ovary, and may also prevent the fertilization of an egg (the uniting of sperm with the egg). Plan B One-Step may also work by preventing it from attaching to the uterus (womb). Plan B One-Step will not affect a fertilized egg already attached to the uterus.