Can i take plan b and birth control pills at the same time

Emergency contraception is a birth control method to prevent pregnancy in women. It can be used:

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Why it's done
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How you prepare
What you can expect

After a sexual assault or rape
When a condom breaks or a diaphragm slips out of place
When a woman forgets to take birth control pills
When you have sex and do not use any birth control
When any method of birth control is not used correctly

Emergency contraception most likely prevents pregnancy in the same way as regular birth control pills:

By preventing or delaying the release of an egg from a woman's ovaries
By preventing the sperm from fertilizing the egg

The two ways you may receive emergency contraception are by:

Using pills that contain a man-made (synthetic) form of the hormone progesterone called progestins. This is the most common method.
Having an IUD placed inside the uterus.

CHOICES FOR EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION

Two emergency contraceptive pills may be bought without a prescription.

Plan B One-Step is a single tablet.
Next Choice is taken as 2 doses. Both pills can be taken at the same time or as 2 separate doses 12 hours apart.
Either may be taken for up to 5 days after unprotected intercourse.

Ulipristal acetate (Ella) is a new type of emergency contraception pill. You will need a prescription from a health care provider.

Ulipristal is taken as a single tablet.
It may be taken up to 5 days after unprotected sex.

Birth control pills may also be used:

Talk to your provider about the correct dosage.
In general, you must take 2 to 5 birth control pills at the same time to have the same protection.

IUD placement is another option:

It must be inserted by your provider within 5 days of having unprotected sex. The IUD that is used contains a small amount of copper.
Your doctor can remove it after your next period. You may also choose to leave it in place to provide ongoing birth control.

MORE ABOUT EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTIVE PILLS

Women of any age can buy Plan B One-Step and Next Choice at a pharmacy without a prescription or visit to a health care provider.

Emergency contraception works best when you use it within 24 hours of having sex. However, it may still prevent pregnancy for up to 5 days after you first had sex.

You should not use emergency contraception if:

You think you have been pregnant for several days.
You have vaginal bleeding for an unknown reason (talk to your provider first).

Emergency contraception may cause side effects. Most are mild. They may include:

Changes in menstrual bleeding
Fatigue
Headache
Nausea and vomiting

After you use emergency contraception, your next menstrual cycle may start earlier or later than usual. Your menstrual flow may be lighter or heavier than usual.

Most women get their next period within 7 days of the expected date.
If you do not get your period within 3 weeks after taking emergency contraception, you might be pregnant. Contact your provider.

Sometimes, emergency contraception does not work. However, research suggests that emergency contraceptives have no long-term effects on the pregnancy or developing baby.

OTHER IMPORTANT FACTS

You may be able to use emergency contraception even if you cannot regularly take birth control pills. Talk to your provider about your options.

Emergency contraception should not be used as a routine birth control method. It does not work as well as most types of birth control.

Morning-after pill; Postcoital contraception; Birth control - emergency; Plan B; Family planning - emergency contraception

Allen RH, Kaunitz AM, Hickey M, Brennan A. Hormonal contraception. In: Melmed S, Auchus RJ, Goldfine AB, Koenig RJ, Rosen CJ, eds. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 14th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 18.

Rivlin K, Davis AR. Contraception and abortion. In: Gershenson DM, Lentz GM, Valea FA, Lobo RA, eds. Comprehensive Gynecology. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 13.

Winikoff B, Grossman D. Contraception. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 225.

Updated by: John D. Jacobson, MD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

Overview

The morning-after pill is a type of emergency birth control (contraception). Emergency contraception is used to prevent pregnancy for women who've had unprotected sex or whose birth control method has failed.

The morning-after pill is intended for backup contraception only, not as a primary method of birth control. Morning-after pills contain either levonorgestrel (Plan B One-Step) or ulipristal acetate (ella).

Levonorgestrel is available over-the-counter without a prescription; ulipristal acetate is available only with a prescription.

Why it's done

Morning-after pills can help prevent pregnancy if you've had unprotected sex — either because you didn't use birth control, you missed a birth control pill, you were sexually assaulted or your method of birth control failed.

Morning-after pills do not end a pregnancy that has implanted. They work primarily by delaying or preventing ovulation.

Keep in mind that the morning-after pill isn't the same as mifepristone (Mifeprex), also known as RU-486 or the abortion pill. This drug terminates an established pregnancy — one in which the fertilized egg has attached to the uterine wall and has begun to develop.

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Risks

Emergency contraception is an effective option for preventing pregnancy after unprotected sex, but it isn't as effective as other methods of contraception and isn't recommended for routine use. Also, the morning-after pill can fail even with correct use, and it offers no protection against sexually transmitted infections.

The morning-after pill isn't appropriate for everyone. Don't take a morning-after pill if:

You're allergic to any component of the morning-after pill
You're taking certain medications that can decrease the effectiveness of the morning-after pill, such as barbiturates or St. John's wort

If you're overweight or obese, there's some indication that the morning-after pill won't be as effective in preventing pregnancy as it is for women who aren't overweight.

Also, make sure you're not pregnant before using ulipristal. The effects of ulipristal on a developing baby are unknown. If you're breast-feeding, ulipristal isn't recommended.

Side effects of the morning-after pill, which typically last only a few days, might include:

Nausea or vomiting
Dizziness
Fatigue
Headache
Breast tenderness
Bleeding between periods or heavier menstrual bleeding
Lower abdominal pain or cramps

How you prepare

For maximum effectiveness, emergency contraception should be started as soon as possible after unprotected intercourse, and within 120 hours. You can take emergency contraceptive pills anytime during your menstrual cycle.

What you can expect

To use the morning-after pill:

Follow the morning-after pill's instructions. If you use Plan B One-Step, take one Plan B One-Step pill as soon as possible and less than 72 hours after unprotected sex. If you use ella, take one ella pill as soon as possible and less than 120 hours after unprotected sex.
If you vomit within two hours after taking the morning-after pill, ask your health care provider if you should take another dose.
Don't have sex until you start another method of birth control. The morning-after pill doesn't offer lasting protection from pregnancy. If you have unprotected sex in the days and weeks after taking the morning-after pill, you're at risk of becoming pregnant. Be sure to begin using or resume use of birth control.

Using the morning-after pill may delay your period by up to one week. If you don't get your period within three to four weeks of taking the morning-after pill, take a pregnancy test.

Normally, you don't need to contact your health care provider after using the morning-after pill. However, if you have bleeding or spotting that lasts longer than a week or develop severe lower abdominal pain three to five weeks after taking the morning-after pill, contact him or her. These can indicate a miscarriage or that the fertilized egg has implanted outside the uterus, usually in a fallopian tube (ectopic pregnancy).