Plan B may not be as effective as women think…
Plan B is an emergency contraception pill taken after unprotected sex and is used to prevent pregnancy (Plan B- Morning-after Pill”). It is also known as the morning-after pill because it used to prevent pregnancy from happening. Plan B contains the hormone levonorgestrel. It works by preventing a woman’s egg from being released from her ovary, and therefore preventing pregnancy from becoming possible. It also may prevent sperm from fertilizing an egg. Plan B can be purchased without a prescription.
Plan B is more effective the sooner you take it after having unprotected sex; You don’t have to wait till the “morning after” to take it- you can take it right away after unprotected sex. Plan B does not work if you have unprotected sex after having taken it (“Plan B- Morning-after Pill”).
What many women do not know is that Plan B may not be effective if you weigh over 155 pounds or have a BMI over 30 (“Yes, Plan B Has a Weight Limit — Here’s What It Means for You”). There is some research that shows levonorgestrel, the ingredient in Plan B, is less effective when one has a higher weight or BMI. This means that the chance of pregnancy is higher for women with a higher weight who take Plan B. This does not mean that a woman cannot take Plan B if they are over 155 pounds, but other forms of preventative birth control are recommended in this case (such as birth control pills or IUDs).
There are few studies conducted on Plan B and its effectiveness based on a person’s weight and BMI, although some studies do suggest than Plan B is less effective when a person has a higher weight or BMI. There are varying brands of Plan B that advertise its effectiveness, but do not advertise its effectiveness based on weight.
There is a more effective type of levonorgestrel pill used in a similar fashion as Plan B called ella, but it can only be purchased with a prescription.
In short, there needs to be more research conducted on the effectiveness of Plan B based on weight and BMI. Plan B is meant to prevent pregnancy from happening, and all women, regardless of weight, should understand its varying levels of effectiveness.
Works Cited
Person. “Yes, Plan B Has a Weight Limit — Here’s What It Means for You.” Healthline, Healthline Media, 18 Nov. 2020, www.healthline.com/health/healthy-sex/plan-b-weight-limit.
“Plan B (Morning-after Pill): Effectiveness and Side Effects.” WebMD, WebMD, www.webmd.com/sex/birth-control/plan-b. Accessed 14 Apr. 2024.