Alternatives to Plan B for Emergency Contraception

Emergency contraceptives

• Plan B is one of the most popular forms of emergency contraception today, but it's not the only one available. Various other morning-after options do the same thing and work in the same way — stopping the process of ovulation in order to prevent pregnancy. 

Alternatives to Plan B

• Plan B is an over-the-counter medication that usually costs between $40-60. Plan B contains levonorgestrel, a drug that can work in one of three ways: prevent the release of an egg from the ovary, prevents fertilization of the egg by sperm, or change the lining of the uterus to prevent the development of pregnancy. 

ella

• Ella is a morning-after pill that contains ulipristal acetate. Acquiring ella requires a prescription from a doctor and is 85% effective if it's taken within 5 days. At a minimum, it costs $50. This is the most effective emergency contraceptive pill. 
• Last-minute medical consultations and next-day delivery of ella are accessible through Nurx and PRJKT RUBY. 

Take Action 

• Like Plan B, Take Action is a levonorgestrel pill that can be bought over the counter. It is 75-89% effective if taken within 3 days and costs around $35, making it a more affordable option. 

AfterPill

• AfterPill also contains levonorgestrel and is 75-89% effective if taken within 3 days. It is one of the most accessible options as it can be obtained online and only costs around $25, including shipping. 

Paragard

• Paragard is not a pill, but a copper intrauterine device (IUD), which is also used as a form of birth control. If it’s used within 5 days, it's more than 99.9% effective. However, it requires a medical appointment for a prescription and insertion, and can cost up to $1,300. 

Birth control pills

• Regular birth control pills can also be used like a morning-after pill to prevent unwanted pregnancy if you’re already prescribed them. Continuing to take birth control pills is 56-86% effective.  

Restrictions to morning-after pills

• While morning-after pills are incredibly beneficial, they still have a long way to go. Many are ineffective for people weighing over 165-195 lbs, which is a significant portion of the population. Anyone above the average weight in America — 170.8 to 199.8 lbs — is left without effective methods of emergency contraception.  
• Morning-after pills and other forms of emergency contraception are unaffordable to many. Some organizations offer free morning-after pills, which many experts say is an essential resource in public health, including certain Planned Parenthood locations and local health centers. Find the nearest Planned Parenthood and local health center to you. 

Do you think morning-after pills should be free nationwide? Let your representatives know. 

-Jamie Epstein