Is Plan B Still Legal After The Roe V Wade Decision?
Today the Supreme Court of the United States announced its decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, a landmark 1973 court case that established a constitutional right to abortion in the United States (via AP News). While this does not make abortion illegal across the entire country, it does put the right to regulate abortions back in the hands of the states. With millions of women living in states that already have or will make abortion illegal in the coming days, it is important to know exactly how this decision affects you.
According to Consumer Reports, the SCOTUS decision to overturn Roe v Wade does not affect Plan B. Plan B is a form of emergency contraception that can prevent pregnancy when it is taken within 72 hours after contraceptive failure or unprotected sex. While the Supreme Court's decision does not apply to emergency contraception, some states, including Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Mississippi, and South Dakota, have laws in place that make it difficult or impossible to access Plan B.
What to know about Plan B
Also known as the morning-after pill, Plan B is a type of emergency contraception that can be used to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex. Plan B is most effective when taken within 72 hours (three days) of unprotected sex, but it can still be effective up to 5 days after unprotected sex (via WebMD). The sooner you take it, the better it will work. It is important to remember that Plan B does not protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs). If you think you may have been exposed to an STI, contact your healthcare provider or local clinic for testing and treatment.
Plan B is not as effective as regular birth control methods like the pill, patch, ring, or intrauterine device (IUD). If you're sexually active and not using regular birth control, you should start using it as soon as possible. This product may cause some side effects, like nausea, vomiting, dizziness, breast tenderness, or fatigue. These side effects are usually mild and go away on their own within a few days. You can buy Plan B over the counter at most pharmacies without a prescription. However, some states have laws that restrict access to emergency contraception, so it's always best to call ahead and make sure the pharmacy carries it.