There is so much information on social media about different types of abortion. If you're in an unplanned pregnancy, you may feel confused by all the opinions out there. Maybe even thinking about abortion is scary to you. Before you decide, it's important to understand the different methods of early abortion, especially the abortion pill and Plan B.

NOVA Pregnancy Help Centers is here to answer your questions about the abortion pill and Plan B. Remember, this is your life. No matter what your decision is, we care about you and your health. Here is some information to explain the difference between the abortion pill and Plan B.

What is Plan B? How does it work?

Plan B is a pill sometimes called the "morning-after pill" or the "day after pill." It is also known as emergency contraception. It must be taken within 72 hours after unprotected sex or birth control failure during sex. Plan B consists of a hormone called levonorgestrel that affects your uterus and cervix.

Plan B works by:

Stopping your ovary from releasing an egg.

It may prevent fertilization of an egg by sperm.
It may also keep a fertilized egg from attaching to your uterus.

It is important to know that Plan B will not prevent you from catching any sexually transmitted diseases (STDs or STIs). It will not protect you from getting HIV/AIDS, chlamydia, gonorrhea or other harmful STDs.

What are the side effects of Plan B?

As when you take any medication, there are potential side effects. For Plan B, side effects include:

Nausea
Headaches and Dizziness
Extreme tiredness, Fatigue
A delay or change in your menstrual period. You may have heavier bleeding than normal.

What is the Abortion Pill?

The abortion pill is also known as a medical abortion. As the name implies, this method of abortion uses medication to end your no later than 11 weeks after your last period. It's called an abortion pill, but the process uses two different medications: mifepristone and misoprostol. (Although the FDA has approved the use of the abortion pill, many online sites are selling abortion pills made by overseas manufacturers who don't comply with FDA standards. Buying these unauthorized pills could put you at risk.)

How does the abortion pill work?

You take the mifepristone pill first. It blocks your body's ability to make progesterone. This causes the fetus to stop growing and leads to the death of the fetus. About 24 hours later, you take the second pill, the misoprostol, which causes cramping and bleeding that expels the fetus from your uterus.

What are the side effects of the abortion pill?

Abortion is a big decision that can cause emotional and physical side effects. Because it's a medical procedure, there are some side effects of the abortion pill that you should know about, including:

Heavy bleeding and blood clots
Upset Stomach and Nausea
Vomiting or Diarrhea
Headaches
Painful cramps when the fetus comes out of your uterus

Contact your doctor if you have these dangerous side effects below after you take the abortion pill:

Severe bleeding/Large blood clots (Bleeding so heavy that you fill two menstrual pads in 1 hour.)
Fever of over 100.4° for more than 24 hours.
Severe pain in your stomach and/or back.
Foul smelling discharge from your vagina.

It might surprise you to hear the first abortion pill (mifepristone) causes the death of the fetus. Maybe you didn't know the fetus died inside your uterus. Unfortunately, not all clinics or websites mention this, but it can cause some psychological distress for women.

Why are Plan B and the abortion pill so confusing?

Many people confuse Plan B and the abortion pill, but they are very different from one another. Plan B is used after unprotected sex or a failure of birth control during sex. It can only be used in the first 72 hours after sex. The abortion pill can be used up to 11 weeks since your last period. Since you are farther along in your pregnancy, when you take the abortion pill, you will have heavier bleeding and blood clots. Some women experience horrible pain for a few days.

What to do before you take the abortion pill:

If you have an unplanned pregnancy, take your time and get good information so you can make an informed decision. Before you take an abortion pill, it's important to get:

Pregnancy testing- Even if you've done an at-home pregnancy test, it's important to have another one to confirm you're pregnant before you take the abortion pill. We offer free pregnancy testing at our 2 clinics in northern VA.
Ultrasound- Once you know for sure you're pregnant, you can get an ultrasound to confirm that it is a viable pregnancy and to see how far along you are.
Sexually transmitted infection test- STI tests are important before you take the abortion pill to prevent an infection from spreading. Sexually transmitted infections are on the rise. You can get an STI from oral, anal, or vaginal sexual activity. Don't hesitate to get tested so you can receive treatment right away.

Did you know?

Plan B or the morning-after pill won’t work if you're already pregnant.
The Abortion pill ends an existing pregnancy using medication. Many women are buying online abortion pills from unauthorized companies that the FDA has not approved. Don’t do it! It is not safe. Any time you take medication into your body, it is important to first speak to a medical professional.

Before you decide

Before you decide about your unplanned pregnancy, remember that we at NOVA Pregnancy Help Centers are here for you. We can provide you with the most up-to-date information to protect your health as you think things through. Abortion is an important and huge decision. Get all the information you need before taking any step forward. Come in and talk to us about your options. Please call or text us at 703-278-5433 (Fairfax) or 703-780-4700 (Alexandria).

What is the difference between the Abortion Pill and Plan B?