Family Planning Plus

Emergency contraceptive pills (Plan B) should be taken within 48 hours after unprotected intercourse. However, the sooner after unprotected sex that the Plan B is taken , the more effective it is. When taken early, ECP’s are about 75% to 80% effective at preventing pregnancy. ECP’s help prevent pregnancy by delaying ovulation. They are not a long term method of birth control.

Most ECP’s today are packaged as a one pill or two pill dose. Plan B One step is one pill, one time. Other manufacturers may have a two pill package. In this case, both pills are taken at the same time. In the past, Plan B was taken in intervals. That dosing was 1 pill as soon as possible after unprotected sex, then a second pill 12 hours after the first. This was frequently a problem, however, because some women would forget to take the second dose. Therefore, the one pill, one time dosing has become the preferred way for most clinicians.