Family Planning Plus

Anytime you have unprotected intercourse or condom failure, there is the risk of pregnancy.

Plan B helps prevent pregnancy by delaying ovulation. It delays ovulation for several days, allowing sperm within the vagina to die off. Sperm can survive in the vagina for as long as 3 days. After taking Plan B, you should have a period within 2-3 weeks. Plan B is not a long term method of birth control. It is not effective for repeated incidents of unprotected sex. Additionally, because it alters your hormones and delays ovulation, taking Plan B frequently can actually increase your chance of pregnancy.

Since Plan B is safe for most women, you could take it again. In the meantime, do not have unprotected intercourse until your next period. If your next period is more than 1 week late, do a pregnancy test.

If the condom keeps breaking, review with your partner the correct use of condoms. Make sure that he is pinching the tip of the condom when it is being applied. This allows room for semen. There are several online sites that review condom use. Family Planning Plus clinics also have information on this.

You should consider beginning a long term method of birth control like pills, patch, Depo injection, etc. When taken correctly & consistently, you would have effective, reliable prevention from pregnancy, plus the added benefit of cycle control. You and your partner could still use condoms as a back up method.

Family Planning Plus clinics offer gyn exams and birth control at little to no cost, depending on your household size & income.