Maybe you’ve heard of Plan B. But recently, there is more talk about “Plan C” as a pregnancy option. What is it though?
Plan C is another name for the abortion pill. It involves two different medications that ultimately end a pregnancy. Let’s explore how Plan C works and the differences between Plan B and Plan C.
Is Plan B the same as Plan C?
Plan B is not the same as Plan C. Here’s what makes them different:
Plan B, also known as the morning-after pill, is an emergency contraceptive designed to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex. Plan B does not end an existing pregnancy. Plan B is available over the counter and needs to be taken within 72 hours of intercourse.
Plan C, widely known as the abortion pill or medication abortion, is an abortifacient. It ends an existing pregnancy and expels it from the uterus. It does not work to prevent a pregnancy. It is available through a prescription from your doctor and requires you to take 2 pills within 48 hours of each other. You can take it up to 10 weeks from the first day of your last menstrual period.
You can learn more about the difference between the two in this article.
What is Plan B and how does it work?
Plan B is an emergency contraceptive taken to help prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex. It is taken when your regular form of birth control failed – such as missing a dose of birth control or a broken condom.
Plan B works by temporarily delaying the release of an egg from the ovary, so that no egg meets the sperm for fertilization.
If ovulation has already happened when you take Plan B, there is a chance you will still become pregnant. Plan B can thin the lining of the uterus, so that if fertilization has occurred, the fetus will not be able to impact and grow resulting in early pregnancy loss.
What is Plan C?
The abortion pill uses two different medications (mifepristone and misoprostol) to end a pregnancy up to 10 weeks gestation.
It is important to have a pregnancy evaluation before you take the abortion pills. This evlauation will confirm that the baby is in the uterus, has a heartbeat, and how far along you are. Without confirming how far along you are and if the pregnancy is alive, you can accidentally take the abortion pill after 10 weeks and risk serious complications like an incomplete abortion or an undetected, life-threatening ectopic pregnancy.
At Parkville Women’s Clinic, we offer free limited ultrasounds to give you the answers you need before scheduling an abortion. The evaluation may show that the fetus is not alive and your body intends to miscarry. If this is the case, there is no need for an abortion.
How does Plan C work?
The first medication, mifepristone, blocks progesterone to end the pregnancy. The second medication, misoprostol, causes strong cramping to expel the pregnancy from the uterus. You will experience strong cramping, heaving bleeding, and the passing of clots up to the size of a lemon.
Read more about how the abortion pill works and its risks in our abortion pill article.
Is it safe for me to order Plan C online?
Most abortion pills or “Plan C” advertised online are not FDA-approved and may lack necessary active ingredients, have incorrect dosage amounts, or contain harmful substances.
Unfortunately, many online pharmacies are unlicensed, operating without the approval of the FDA, and are taking advantage of women who are facing difficult unplanned pregnancy decisions.
Seeing a doctor is a necessary first step to ensuring your safety. Any source providing the abortion pill should require an appointment both before and after taking Plan C to protect you.
What are the side effects of Plan C?
Common side effects from the abortion pill may include:
- Spotting or bleeding that can last up to a month
- Headaches
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea and digestive pain
- Chills
- Abdominal cramping
- Fever
You should go to the nearest emergency room as soon as possible if you are experiencing any of these severe side effects:
- Heavy bleeding — soaking two or more pads an hour for two hours in a row
- Fever that lasts more than 24 hours
- Foul-smelling vaginal discharge
- Bad pain in your stomach or back
- Chills or body aches
- Fast heart rate
- Incomplete abortion (which may require a surgical procedure to complete)
What do I need to do before taking Plan C?
Before taking Plan C you should have a knowledgeable understanding of your pregnancy. Here are a few questions you should have answers to first:
- Am I really pregnant?
- How far along am I?
- Is my pregnancy viable (alive)? Does it have a heartbeat?
- Is my pregnancy growing in my uterus?
- Do I have any STIs that need treated?
These answers will help you rule out a miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, and accidentally taking the abortion pill too far along and risking an incomplete abortion and infection.
We offer free pregnancy evaluations to give you the necessary information you need to make an educated pregnancy decision.
Need more info about Plan C?
If you are unexpectedly pregnant and considering abortion, take the time to make an informed, safe decision.
Parkville Women’s Clinic offers free medical-grade pregnancy tests, limited OB ultrasounds, STI testing and treatment, and abortion information to help you get the answers you need to make a decision that is best for you.
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