The ‘Problem’ With The Morning After Pill
graphic by Honey Simatupang
The ‘morning-after’ pill. Also known as ‘Plan B’, in a more general sense. We’ve all heard about it at some point. Probably not from sex-ed— because our sexual education system is based on abstinence instead of reality— but from someone, somewhere, at some point. Named after its infamous “Oh, shit!” factor, the morning after pill is classified as emergency contraception, in the same ranks as the legendary and extremely effective copper IUD. So if the condom breaks, you forget to take your daily birth control pill, or you just get caught up in the heat of the moment, this little pill has your back when it comes to preventing pregnancy.
Morning after pills containing levonorgestrel, such as Plan B One-Step and Take Action, can lower your chances of getting pregnant by 75-89% if you take it within the first three days after unprotected sex. There are other types of morning-after pills, such as ella, that require a prescription and tend to be more effective than OTC morning-after pills; they also may be a better option for people who weigh 155 pounds or more. However, because ella requires a prescription, many people choose to keep with OTC pills— for time’s sake.
Many sexually active people keep a morning-after pill at home just in case they ever need to use it— and for good reason. The morning-after pill is a safe and effective way to prevent pregnancy up to 5 days (120 hours) after unprotected sex— but it works better the faster you take it. Time is protection here, so if you can get your hands on this magic little pill in record time, you’ll have higher chances of protection. Not to mention that it doesn’t cause any long-term side effects or impact your ability to conceive in the future.
The morning-after pill works by releasing a large dose of levonorgestrel, which mimics natural progesterone. This ironically tricks your body into thinking you’re already pregnant, delaying the release of an egg from the ovary and thereby preventing ovulation. In short, an egg will not even be released for sperm to fertilize. A common misconception (apparently) in our society is that Plan B terminates an existing pregnancy. Plan B only works to prevent pregnancy; it cannot end one. In other words, it’s just another method of contraception that will help you prevent pregnancy in case of an emergency.
Sounds too good to be true, right?
Right.
There’s always a catch, and this time, it’s all in the name. There’s a reason why ‘Plan B’ and other morning-after pills are called “emergency contraception”...with an emphasis on emergency. You don’t really want to have to use ‘Plan B’; it shouldn’t be your front-runner defense against pregnancy (or STDs for that matter, because it’s not giving you any protection there). As the nickname refers, it’s “Plan B”. It comes only after your real front-runners— condoms, the pill, the patch, and so on— slip up. It might seem easier, but the morning after pill isn’t more effective or more reliable than other birth control methods just because it is a single dose. Using regular methods of more accessible contraception is the way to go when it comes to preventing pregnancy in the long run.
Because that is the second issue, after all. Accessibility.
On average, OTC morning-after pills cost a whopping $50… and for only a single pill. This isn’t nearly as affordable as other methods of contraception— or really affordable by any means. While there are certain brands that cost less than others, accessibility to emergency contraception is a pressing issue. Many people need Plan B and other OTC/prescription emergency contraception, for whatever their reasons might be, and simply can’t afford it. Though organizations like PlannedParenthood provide emergency contraception for free or at a low cost, accessibility, and therefore time, means everything when it comes to taking this pill. Local drugstores and pharmacies, which are closer to the majority of people, charge much more.
We live in a culture that places the burdens of pregnancy on women and people with uteruses but also won’t give them the resources to prevent it if they’re not ready to carry them. In a society where reproductive rights are in a constant state of peril, it is imperative that we not only move to establish and secure those reproductive rights and safety but also to make preventive care more accessible. While this has a lot to do with cost and making it so individuals are even allowed to access preventative healthcare, it also has to do with how we are teaching current and future generations about sex. Sex can have consequences, but pregnancy doesn’t always have to be one of them. Instead of fear-mongering students not to have sex period, sex-ed should be educating on how to approach sex in general, including what to do after unprotected sex. The story doesn’t end there, and that’s something our society—especially those who hold seats of power— need to understand.