The Real Reason Plan B Doesn’t work !
The Real Reason Plan B Doesn’t work !
Blog Post: Why the Plan B Pill Doesn’t Always Work
Have you recently taken the Plan B pill after unprotected sex and are still worried about the possibility of pregnancy? You’re not alone. Many women are confused about how Plan B works and why it might fail in certain cases. Let’s break it down and get to the real reason behind Plan B’s limitations.
Understanding Plan B
Plan B is an emergency contraceptive pill designed to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex. However, there’s a critical misunderstanding about how it works—it is not an abortion pill. Once fertilization has occurred (when the female egg meets male sperm), Plan B can no longer prevent pregnancy.
The Role of Ovulation
To understand why timing is key, let’s first explore ovulation. Women are born with all the eggs they’ll ever have, but these eggs remain immature until ovulation. During ovulation, one egg matures and is released from the ovary, traveling to the fallopian tube. Here, it waits for sperm to fertilize it. This waiting period lasts only 12 to 24 hours. If fertilization doesn’t occur, the egg disintegrates, and the menstrual cycle continues.
How Plan B Works
Plan B contains a hormone called progestin, which works in two primary ways:
- Stops the egg from maturing. This prevents the egg from being released from the ovary.
- Blocks fertilization. If no egg is released, there’s nothing for sperm to fertilize.
When Plan B Fails
One major reason Plan B doesn’t always work is timing. If you’ve already ovulated, Plan B cannot reverse the process. A mature egg that’s already met sperm cannot be stopped from developing into a fertilized egg.
If you’re unsure whether ovulation has occurred, there are tools and resources available to help track your ovulation cycle. If you determine that you haven’t yet ovulated and take Plan B correctly within 72 hours of unprotected sex, the chances of pregnancy are significantly reduced. However, if ovulation has occurred, Plan B will likely be ineffective.
What to Do Next
If you suspect Plan B might not have worked, the next step is to wait for a missed period and take a pregnancy test. The waiting period can be stressful, but it’s the most reliable way to confirm whether or not you’re pregnant.