What is the difference between Plan B and Plan C?

Your reproductive choices matter very much, which is why we strive to provide the most accurate and up-to-date information concerning reproductive care. Many women wonder about the difference between Plan B and Plan C. Although similar in their names, Plan B and Plan C are not the same. The FDA classifies them separately. They are used at different times. They are chemically different. Ultimately, they perform different functions within your body.

If you would like further information, schedule a consultation with us. We’d love to be part of your support system, and our services are completely free and confidential.

Plan B

Plan B, also known as the “morning after pill,” Plan B is classified as an emergency contraceptive intended for use up to 72 hours after having unprotected sex or realizing that a different birth control method may have failed. Plan B must be used as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the less effective the product. Plan B will not work if a person is already pregnant.^[1]

In regards to chemical makeup and machination, Plan B is composed of a drug called Levonorgestrel, a synthetic hormone that “blunts the… hormone surge that occurs during the pre-ovulation stage.”^[2] This means that it prevents your body from releasing an egg or limits the egg’s viability and, therefore, inhibits the possibility of a pregnancy.

Plan C

Plan C, also known as the “abortion pill,” will end an existing pregnancy up to ten weeks in gestation. It will not work if you are further than ten weeks along, which is why determining the gestational age is very important. Our clinic will offer a FREE ultrasound to any pregnant woman to help determine the gestational age and inform you of your options.

Plan C is illegal in some states because it is classified as an abortifacient. The FDA does not recommend buying Plan C online because online stores bypass safeguards designed to protect you.^[3] Plan C is serious and should be acquired from a medical professional.

The chemical makeup of Plan C is a drug called mifepristone, which is a “selective antagonist of progesterone,” meaning that it cuts off the supply of progesterone to the fetus. Therefore, the effects of mifepristone can be reversed by receiving prescription progesterone. If you have started a medicated abortion but would like to reverse course, you can ask for Abortion Pill Reversal by calling the number 1-877-558-0333. This hotline operates 24/7. You can also visit: https://www.abortionpillreversal.com/

Further Information

Again, if you would like further information or clarification, schedule an appointment with us. We’d love to be part of your support system. The information we provide is accurate and our services are completely free and confidential.

  [1] https://www.fda.gov/drugs/postmarket-drug-safety-information-patients-and-providers/plan-b-one-step-15-mg-levonorgestrel-information

[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK539737/#:~:text=Levonorgestrel%20(LNG%E2%80%9417alpha%2Dethynyl,releasing%20hormone%20from%20the%20hypothalamus.

[3] https://www.fda.gov/drugs/postmarket-drug-safety-information-patients-and-providers/information-about-mifepristone-medical-termination-pregnancy-through-ten-weeks-gestation