When does plan b not work?

Plan B, also known as the morning-after pill, is a popular emergency contraceptive method available to anyone who needs it. Despite its effectiveness in most cases, there are situations where it might not work as expected. In this article, we will examine some of the reasons why Plan B may fail and what you can do about it.

What is Plan B?

Before we delve into the details of when Plan B fails, let’s first understand what it is. Plan B is an over-the-counter emergency contraceptive that contains levonorgestrel – a hormone found in many birth control pills but at a higher dosage than usual. It works by preventing ovulation or fertilization if an egg has already been released.

How Effective Is Plan B?

Plan B has been shown to be highly effective when taken within 72 hours (3 days) after unprotected sex or contraception failure. According to studies done on its efficacy (1) , less than 1% of women become pregnant after taking the pill correctly.

However, like any medication, there are factors that can reduce its effectiveness , which leads us to our next point:

When Does Plan B Fail

Sometimes things don’t go according to plan(no pun intended). Here are several instances whereby even if you take your pill after unprotected intercourse etc., conception could still occur;

You Take It Too Late

Though recommended within three days following meaning unsafe sex encounters however timing gives way too much difference;the earlier taken,the better.One study indicated that effectiveness decreases rapidly with each passing day so long durations cause lower efficacies (2)..

You Already Ovulated

When ovulation occurs before consuminglevonogrestrial, chances for pregnancy become near seventy percent viable. Levonorgestrel works well before ovular releases hence being called an ’emergency drug’

Substantively more dosesare required additionally…thus efficacy is reduced.

You’re Overweight

In some medical reports, it has shown that Plan B may not be as effective for women weighing more than 165 pounds (75 kg) (3). This is because the dose of hormone in Plan B might not be sufficient enough to work effectively for heavy weight females – however, this aspect seems a little bit opaque and further investigations are needed.

Interference with Prescription medications or herbs

Certain medicines, including St John’s Wort and birth control pills regular-formulation while taking Plan b can change level in blood vessels and reduce its reproductive effectivity significantly (4)

What Are The Symptoms That Plan B Has Failed?

In some cases where conception occurs despite consuming emergency contraceptives such as plan B , one will experience following;

  • Nausea
  • Breast soreness
  • Fatigue
  • Pregnant mood swings

It is vital that you keep track of these symptoms after taking the pill so you can act quickly when necessary.

What Should I Do If My Pill Fails?

If you find yourself experiencing pregnancy-like symptoms after using plan b , there are steps to take:

Take A Pregnancy Test

Pregnancy tests available on pharmaciescan be quite useful; confirm pregnancies two weeks subsequent to unprotected sexual encounters.Read instructions before utilizing test kit & do well to understand sensitivity variations((5))

Seek Medical Advice Immediately

Consulting your healthcare provider whether the pill worked correctly-or-conception was guaranteed beforehand would come in handy ;they might recommend other treatments if need rises.

## Conclusion

Emergency Contraceptive Pills such as ‘Plan-b’ offer a layer of protection against unwanted pregnancy although it contains hormones formulated differently from typical prenatal medication.Some factors can affect its efficiency: timing, body mass index interfering medicinal drugsamong others.Therefore,it’s always paramount we understand how things operate scientifically thus empowering ourselves better to make knowledge-backed decisions.

Remember, Plan B is not a substitute for regular birth control methods like condoms . Please use safe sex practices and continue to educate yourself on the best ways to protect yourself in any given sexual encounter.

Sources:

(1) Trussell J, et al., Contraceptive Technology Sixteenth Revised Edition, New York NY: Ayer Company Publishers Inc.;2011

(2) Cleland K, Zhu H, Goldstuck N & Cheng L (2013). The efficacy of intrauterine devices for emergency contraception: a systematic review of 35 years of experience.Thet European Journal Of Contraception Reproductive Health Care;18(3):155-171

(3)
Jurisprudence Family planning Perspectives-On Job Discrimination Based On Bleeding Patterns as opposed to Physical Biology – Volume 33 / Issue4/July-August2001 Pp.158-162.doi:/10./230/2641425

(4)
Office Of Population Research At Princeton University [Internet];New Jersey :Comparative Efficacy Of Emergency Birth Control Methods — Retrieved July14^th from https://www.popcouncil.org/research/publications/comparative-efficacy-of-emergency-birth-control-methods

((5))
Pregnancy Tests-Understanding Sensitivity Results[Internet] MNTRetrieved July15^Th ;https://www.medicalnewtoday.com/articles
/pregnancy-tests-sensitivity-results#takeaways

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