2008 Woodie Awards
Science Q & A
Q. What is the difference between the abortion pill and Plan B?
Rachael Federico
Issue date: 11/1/07 Section: Sci/Tech
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A. There is a very big difference between these two items, but it seems that they are easily confused. To begin, Plan B (also known as "the morning after pill") is not an abortion pill, though many smear campaigns against it would make it seem that way. This medication was the center of a lot of controversy in 2003, because many groups opposed the pill being given to women without a prescription from a doctor. As of 2006, Plan B became available without a prescription for women over the age of 18, but a prescription is needed for women 17 and younger. This can help women who need access to the pill on a weekend or holiday (or anytime that getting a prescription from a doctor would be difficult to obtain immediately). The pill can be taken up to 72 hours after unprotected sex, or a failed contraceptive. It can reduce a woman's likelihood of getting pregnant as much as 89 percent.
Plan B is like a high-dosage birth control pill (it uses the synthetic hormone levonorgestrel). This pill suppresses ovulation so that no egg is present to be fertilized. It can, also, sometimes, prevent a fertilized egg from attaching to the uterus. Therefore, the longer a woman waits to take this pill, the less likely it would be able to prevent a pregnancy. (Since an egg is only viable for about 24 hours, the longer a woman waits to take the pill, the more likely she is to ovulate or have a fertilized egg attach to the uterus). It is important to keep in mind that this pill does not work in aborting a pregnancy-if a fertilized egg is already attached to the uterine lining, ingesting the pill will not affect it. Women must take two doses of this drug, with a 12-hour interval between them. Side effects are similar to the birth control pill: nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, fatigue, diarrhea, dizziness, breast tenderness, headache, and menstrual changes. Some women also report mood changes, after taking the pill.
On the other hand, the abortion pill, Mifepristone, or RU486, does cause a woman, who ingests it, to miscarry, if she is in her first trimester of pregnancy. Some brand names for this pill include Mifeprex and Early Option. This pill is a choice for women seeking abortion up to about seven weeks of pregnancy. According to a Washington Post article, "RU-486 was approved by the FDA in 2000 for medical abortions for women pregnant as long as 49 days."
Plan B is like a high-dosage birth control pill (it uses the synthetic hormone levonorgestrel). This pill suppresses ovulation so that no egg is present to be fertilized. It can, also, sometimes, prevent a fertilized egg from attaching to the uterus. Therefore, the longer a woman waits to take this pill, the less likely it would be able to prevent a pregnancy. (Since an egg is only viable for about 24 hours, the longer a woman waits to take the pill, the more likely she is to ovulate or have a fertilized egg attach to the uterus). It is important to keep in mind that this pill does not work in aborting a pregnancy-if a fertilized egg is already attached to the uterine lining, ingesting the pill will not affect it. Women must take two doses of this drug, with a 12-hour interval between them. Side effects are similar to the birth control pill: nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, fatigue, diarrhea, dizziness, breast tenderness, headache, and menstrual changes. Some women also report mood changes, after taking the pill.
On the other hand, the abortion pill, Mifepristone, or RU486, does cause a woman, who ingests it, to miscarry, if she is in her first trimester of pregnancy. Some brand names for this pill include Mifeprex and Early Option. This pill is a choice for women seeking abortion up to about seven weeks of pregnancy. According to a Washington Post article, "RU-486 was approved by the FDA in 2000 for medical abortions for women pregnant as long as 49 days."
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