Which pill for which thing?

Abortion Pill? Missed Period Pill? The Pill? Morning After Pill?

There seems to be a pill for everything. It also seems the prevailing message is that it is no big deal. The reality is any pill is a drug. Drugs should only be used as directed and typically under the supervision of a medical provider. At the Resource Center, we see women every day who have confusion over which one to take and often have not taken them not for their intended use. Did you know taking a drug, or pill, outside of its intended use could cause some serious short, and potentially long-term problems? For that reason, we thought we would take a minute and break down from a high level the different pills, what their intended use is, and provide some insight about that. This is not meant to be an end-all and be-all deep dive on these pills, but rather some general insights. 

Let’s start with birth control. This has been used for years and its intended purpose is to prevent a pregnancy in a few ways. They prevent your body from ovulating and to thicken cervical mucus to help prevent sperm from getting into the uterus. When it comes to birth control, we hear this question a lot: Can I take more of my birth control if I don’t want to be pregnant? No and absolutely no. Remember, it is NEVER safe to take medication other than its prescribed dose. Birth control is different than the abortion pill or Plan B as it is not intended to be used to terminate an existing pregnancy or used at an increased dose to attempt to prevent pregnancy.  Read more on birth control pills here: https://www.healthline.com/health/birth-control-pills

Well, what about Plan B, also known as the morning after pill? This pill is a hormone that is used 24-72 hours after intercourse to attempt to prevent pregnancy. It is NOT intended to end a pregnancy and is about 75 – 95% effective in preventing pregnancy. There are potential side effects as there are with any medication. It should be taken as directed, preferably with medical supervision and not in any other way. 

Now for the abortion pill. The abortion pill isn’t something you can pick up at your local drug store, nor should it be. This is a serious drug used to perform an at-home abortion. The need for a full pregnancy verification is critical. Most importantly is to know how far along you are. This pill is NOT safe or intended to be used past a certain point in a pregnancy. 

The way this works is by using two different medications. The first one is to compete with progesterone, which provides the vital nutrients needed for a healthy pregnancy. The second medication induces contractions to expel the terminated pregnancy. Once both pills are taken the chances of reversing it is little to none. If you have only taken 1 of the 2 pills and are having second thoughts, you may be able to reverse the effects of the 1st pill. The best way to know is to reach out and talk with a nurse. The abortion pill reversal hotline is 1-877-558-0333.

Learn more and see the comparison of the Plan B and Medical Abortion here: https://www.healthline.com/health/healthy-sex/is-plan-b-abortion#quick-comparison-chart

Don’t guess. Talk to a nurse. All of our services are free and confidential. If you think you are pregnant and considering your options, start here with a full medical evaluation of your pregnancy and then decide. We look forward to talking to you. Schedule your free appointment today.