Plan B
Abortion is back in the news as courts move towards banning telemedicine prescriptions and mail-order provision of mifepristone, an incredibly safe pill-based way to terminate pregnancy.
You can’t stock up on mifepristone (you need a prescription) but you CAN stock up on PlanB, a form of birth control that prevents pregnancy *after* sex occurs. It isn’t a perfect solution – that would be easy access to safe abortion – but every option helps.
How to do it:
There are at least four ways to prevent pregnancy after sex occurs. We’re going to focus on only one: over the counter “morning after” pills. To learn about other options, visit this WA state PSA.
Morning after pills come in several brands, with “Plan B” the most widely recognized. All of them work by interrupting the ovulation/fertilization/implantation cycle. None will affect a pregnancy already underway (which is why you need to take it FAST.) They are currently available over the counter without a prescription and online. If you’re in a hurry Amazon Prime will deliver to your door next-day. If you’re planning ahead, Costco allows non-members to use the pharmacy and sells Plan B for as little as $7/pill.
If you are over 165# the morning after pill is less effective. Some people believe taking twice the dose helps. Research on this is mixed, but it’s probably safe. Ella is a prescription alternative that is recommended for women between 165# and 195#, if you can obtain it quickly.
Today’s action item is to plan ahead: all “morning after” options work best if taken quickly, so have some ready for emergencies. When you send kids off to college, send a pack or two. If they never need it, they’ll have a friend who will. If you have high school aged kids keep menstrual products in a public bathroom, along with condoms and a box of Plan B. When something is depleted, restock.
Pick up a package of morning after pills the way you’d stock benadryl or cough drops.
What if you’re already pregnant?
Mail order abortion pills are safe and effective, but as laws and availability change they may become less available. PlanC is a web site to track options based on where you live. It’s a good clearinghouse for information but does not supply medication directly. (This should keep it online, too.)
