If you’ve recently discovered you are pregnant and are figuring out your next steps, you may have some questions about Plan B and the abortion pill. These drugs are not the same and are used for very different purposes.

The Acadiana Pregnancy Center & Clinic provides confidential pregnancy services, including free pregnancy testing and ultrasounds, so you can better understand your pregnancy before deciding what to do next. We’ll also discuss your options so you can make an educated decision. 

Schedule an appointment today. We are here to help you.

How Plan B Works 

Plan B is also known as the morning-after pill. Its active ingredient is a synthetic hormone called levonorgestrel.

Plan B works primarily by preventing or delaying ovulation. When taken within 72 hours after sex, it can reduce the chance of pregnancy by preventing an egg from being released and available for fertilization.

In December 2022, the FDA updated Plan B’s drug label to clarify that Plan B does not act as an abortifacient. In other words, it is not used to end an existing pregnancy.

Because Plan B affects your hormones, you may notice side effects. These can include tiredness, nausea or vomiting, breast tenderness, cramping or lower abdominal pain, and changes in bleeding.

How The Abortion Pill Works 

The abortion pill, also called a medical abortion, involves two drugs: mifepristone and misoprostol.

Mifepristone works by blocking progesterone, a hormone needed for pregnancy to continue. Misoprostol is taken 24 to 48 hours later and causes the uterus to contract, leading to abdominal cramping and vaginal bleeding as the pregnancy is expelled.

The FDA has approved the abortion pill through 10 weeks of gestation. Other possible side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, chills, and headache. 

The process also carries potential health risks, including heavy bleeding, incomplete abortion, and infection.

Before taking abortion drugs, it is important to understand key details about your pregnancy.

A pregnancy test cannot tell you the gestational age (how far along the pregnancy is) or where the pregnancy is located. A limited ultrasound can provide additional information about these details. 

What’s The Difference 

The key difference between Plan B and the abortion pill comes down to when they are used and what they are designed to do. 

Plan B is intended to prevent pregnancy after sex, while the abortion pill is used to end an existing pregnancy. Because they work differently, they also have different side effects, risks, and considerations.

If you think you may be pregnant, the Acadiana Pregnancy Center & Clinic can provide a free pregnancy test and a limited ultrasound, along with accurate information about your options.

Get Clarity at The Acadiana Pregnancy Center & Clinic 

If you are unsure whether you are pregnant or have questions about your pregnancy options, you do not have to figure everything out alone.

We are here to answer your questions, provide free pregnancy services, and offer a place to talk through your concerns and learn about the support and resources available to help you. 

Walk-ins are also available on a first-come, first-served basis, or you can contact us to schedule your confidential appointment.

The Acadiana Pregnancy Center & Clinic does not provide or refer for abortions.

All abortion information sourced in this blog is based on accurate information at the time of writing.