You have probably heard many names for the abortion pill: medical abortion, at-home abortion, self-managed abortion, mail-order abortion, and online abortion. However, “Plan B” is not one of those names.
The abortion pill and Plan B are not the same. The abortion pill consists of the drugs mifepristone and misoprostol (and sometimes methotrexate), while Plan B consists of levonorgestrel.
Keep reading to learn how the abortion pill and Plan B work and how they are different.
The Abortion Pill: How it Works
The abortion pill’s purpose is to terminate an early pregnancy.
Only FDA-approved during the first ten weeks of pregnancy, this method uses two drugs, mifepristone and misoprostol, to end and expel a pregnancy and related tissue from the body.
Mifepristone blocks progesterone to cause the lining of the uterus to thin. After this occurs, the pregnancy will no longer be able to remain attached to the uterus or grow, causing the pregnancy to end.
Hours or days later, misoprostol will trigger uterine contractions to cause abdominal cramping and vaginal bleeding to expel the pregnancy and related tissue from the body.
Plan B: How it Works
Plan B, also known as “the morning-after pill,” has a very different purpose than the abortion pill. It’s intended to prevent pregnancy or stop it from occurring.
The drug levonorgestrel works in a couple of ways:
- It stops or delays the release of an egg from a woman’s ovary to prevent fertilization.
- It can also prevent a fertilized egg from attaching to the wall of the uterus.
Women typically take this drug after unprotected sex or if they believe their birth control method has failed. Unlike the abortion pill, the morning-after pill will not end an existing pregnancy.
Do You Have More Questions?
Are you wondering about Plan B or thinking you may be pregnant? Contact Stillwater Life Services to ask your questions or schedule an appointment.
We can provide no-cost pregnancy testing and a limited ultrasound scan if the test is positive. If you’re concerned about potentially having an STI or STD, we also offer STI/STD testing at a low cost to cover the lab fees.
Schedule an appointment today. We’re here for you.