What exactly does Plan B (or other after-sex pill) do?

How do Plan B and other levonorgestrel morning-after pills work? Take levonorgestrel morning-after pills (like Plan B One-Step, Next Choice One Dose, Take Action, My Way, and AfterPill) as soon as you can after unprotected sex. Simply swallow the tablet the way you would any other pill. read more

Like any medication, Plan B One-Step does have side effects. The most common side effect is nausea, which occurs in about a quarter of women after taking the drug. Other side effects include abdominal pain, fatigue, headache, dizziness, vomiting, and menstrual changes. read more

Another option, Ella, can prevent pregnancy when taken up to five days after sex, but you need a prescription to get it. This pill’s ingredient is ulipristal acetate, and it can delay ovulation with the same effectiveness on days one through five. read more