by Clarity Cares | Oct 28, 2025 | Abortion, Pregnancy
Plan B is commonly used after unprotected sex, but it’s not foolproof. Its effectiveness depends on several key factors—including timing, body weight, and whether you’ve already ovulated. Understanding how Plan B works and when it’s most effective can help you make informed choices.
What Is Plan B and How Does It Work?
Plan B, also called the “morning after pill,” is an over-the-counter emergency contraceptive. It contains levonorgestrel, a synthetic hormone (progestin) that works primarily by preventing or delaying ovulation—so that sperm doesn’t have an egg to fertilize.
Important: Plan B is not the abortion pill. It does not end an existing pregnancy.
Can Plan B Fail?
Yes. Plan B doesn’t always work. Here’s why:
1. You’ve Already Ovulated
Plan B won’t stop a pregnancy if ovulation has already occurred. That’s why tracking your menstrual cycle is so important—especially if you rely on timing-based contraception.
2. Body Weight May Affect Absorption
Studies show Plan B may be less effective in women over 175 lbs. This doesn’t mean it won’t work at all—but effectiveness may drop due to lower absorption.
3. Medications
Medications, such as St John’s Wort, or seizure medications that can interact with Plan B, making it less effective.
Learn more about the factors that affect Plan B’s performance.
What Are the Common Side Effects of Plan B?
Most side effects are mild and go away within a few days. You might experience:
- Nausea or cramping
- Fatigue or headache
- Breast tenderness
- Irregular bleeding
- Changes in your next period
What Should I Expect After Taking It?
Your period might come earlier or later than usual. If it’s more than 7 days late, consider taking a pregnancy test.
Unusual symptoms like severe pain or heavy bleeding could be signs of something more serious—such as an ectopic pregnancy. Contact your healthcare provider if anything feels off.
Final Thoughts: Is Plan B Reliable?
Plan B is an emergency option—but it’s not 100% effective. Here’s what matters most:
- Time is a factor
- Know your ovulation window
- Understand how your weight might affect it
- Always consult a medical provider if you’re unsure
Need Someone to Talk To?
If you have questions about Plan B, your options, or your next steps—we’re here for you. Our licensed medical team offers free, confidential consultations in a judgment-free environment.
Schedule a free appointment today.
FAQs: Plan B & Emergency Contraception
Q: Is Plan B the same as the abortion pill?
A: No. Plan B prevents pregnancy before it starts. It does not end a pregnancy that’s already begun.
Q: Can I take Plan B more than once?
A: Yes, but it’s not recommended as a regular form of birth control. Talk to your provider about better long-term options.
Q: Does Plan B work during ovulation?
A: It’s less effective or may not work at all if you’ve already ovulated.
Q: Is there a weight limit for Plan B?
A: There’s no strict cutoff, but effectiveness may decrease if you weigh over 175 lbs.
by Raegan Smith | Jun 27, 2024 | Abortion, Clarity
On September 15, 2022, with Senate Bill 1, Indiana was the first state since the reversal of Roe v. Wade to ban abortion with few exceptions. It is considered one of the most restrictive bans on abortion to date. Men and women in Indiana experiencing unplanned pregnancies have felt panic and fear. With abortions unavailable to them in their home state, they look for abortions online.
Online searches often lead individuals to the option of the abortion pill, easily purchased from over 80 online sites. The selling of the abortion pill is not monitored outside of the United States. It is shipped to anyone in any state, often without a doctor’s appointment, ultrasound, or even a pregnancy test. No questions asked. Individuals are being sent what they believe are abortion pills; with no instructions, no medical information, no side effects or physical risk warnings, and no follow-up instructions. The devastation is unreal.
According to the FDA, abortion pills are considered safe and effective for pregnancies up to 10 weeks. However, with no questions asked and the availability of online purchasing, women are taking the pills past that time and into their second trimester. Pills are being purchased by women who are not yet pregnant “just in case” and by women with ectopic pregnancies in dire need of medical attention.
Clarity centers have received calls from emotionally traumatized women who have taken abortion pills incorrectly resulting in failed abortions; from women who are hemorrhaging and have no idea what medical interventions are available to them; and from women who have recently experienced a traumatic at-home abortion who are in desperate need of immediate emotional support.
With the majority of abortions resulting from the abortion pill, and with Indiana’s current law regarding abortion, there is no doubt Clarity’s call volume and client visits will continue to increase. A rising number of women will be seeking answers for their unplanned pregnancies and help due to the destruction caused by the abortion pill. Join with Clarity in helping these women understand how much they and their babies matter.
Angie Burton
Director of Client Services
by Clarity Cares | Dec 4, 2019 | Abortion, Hearts Restored
A woman who had an abortion when she was a teen recently said
, “All of this social media hate-talk about women who chose abortion has triggered my self-condemnation again. They don’t know my story…why I thought I had no other option”.
Do these words sounds familiar? Are you or a friend triggered by the shaming of others?
There is so much in the media today with lawmakers debating about abortion. People are talking about the recent popular movie, Unplanned, that highlighted the truth about abortion procedures inside clinics.
We can’t escape the topic.
For many years, you may have stuffed away those memories of your past. All the details may now surface and your anxiety heightens. Now, what do you do? You have a choice.
- Work extra hard to run from the thoughts and feelings.
- Allow the emotions to come, and contact someone who understands and cares.
Fear of rejection and shame may have kept you silent for years, but there are safe and caring women who will embrace you.
Your secret is safe within a Hearts Restored support group. Everyone shares the same secret and commits to confidentiality for each other.
The “me too” about abortion can be a welcoming sound. You know you aren’t alone. You know someone gets what you are going through.
Contact Sue Ketchum by phone at 812.567.3150 or by email about the next Healing After Abortion support group.
Men need healing, too. Contact Don Stuart by phone at 812.720.0802 or by email to meet one-on-one.
**Due to the current COVID-19 restrictions, Hearts Restored group studies are not meeting in person at this time. Please contact Sue at 812.567.3150 to learn about connecting with an online support person or group.
by Clarity Cares | Jul 11, 2018 | Abortion
I had no other option. My parents were going to kick me out of the house. I had nowhere to live. I didn’t have a job, as I was in school. My boyfriend was pressuring me to get an abortion. He didn’t want to be a father. He didn’t love me. I was desperate. And trapped. And scared.
These are the words of a young girl in a Hearts Restored support group. The definition of despair is to have no hope. Change looks impossible. Safety is out of reach. Feminist Frederica Matthewes-Green declared, “No woman wants an abortion as she wants an ice cream cone or a Porsche. She wants an abortion as an animal caught in a trap wants to gnaw off its own leg.”
After hearing stories from many post-abortive women, we realize the word pro-choice is not used, as they describe their moment of saying yes to abortion. It was a necessity for coping with the unplanned pregnancy. Many agonize that they had no other choice.
Hearts Restored, a program of Clarity, offers a choice – a choice to heal. Post-abortive women and men often remain silent about their choice to end the life of their child. They carry the burden of the secret buried deep. Unresolved grief of that loss often plays into negative emotions and behaviors.
How can those women and men find freedom and peace? How can they face the regret about their past choice? Is there an option today for escaping the despair and pain?
Today, they can choose to restore a broken heart by walking through a healing journey. Hearts Restored offers small, confidential support group studies for women and men. There is power in a small group, as participants hear and understand that they are not alone. Others in the group feel the same way. Others coped the same way. The words, “Me too”, are often heard in that safe circle of a recovery group.
1 out 3 women by age 45 had an abortion. You know someone. Tell them about this choice to heal. Freedom awaits those who say yes today!
Confidential contacts*:
Sue at 812.567.3150 or WomensHeartsRestored@claritycares.org
Don at 812.720.0802 or MensHeartsRestored@claritycares.org (Don will meet one-on-one with any man willing to find freedom)
*Your privacy is protected, as Sue and Don are the only ones at Clarity who will know your name.
by Clarity Cares | Jun 27, 2018 | Abortion, Pregnancy
What is emergency contraception (EC)?
Often called the “morning-after pill,” it is intended to prevent pregnancy after known or suspected contraceptive failure, unprotected intercourse or forced sex. The Plan B may also prevent the new life from implanting in the uterus, ending a very early pregnancy, rather than preventing pregnancy altogether.
How does it work?
It works primarily by preventing the egg release from the ovary but it is possible it prevents the egg and sperm from meeting. There is also a chance that it may prevent a fertilized egg from implanting in the uterus. This would end development of the newly formed life; however, it won’t disrupt an already implanted pregnancy. Clarity can do a confidential pregnancy test for you to confirm a positive test from a previous sexual encounter. If that test shows positive then there would be no need to take “Plan B.”
What are the side effects?
They may include changes in your period, nausea, lower abdominal pain, tiredness, headache and dizziness. If your period is more than a week late, you may be pregnant. Women who experience severe abdominal pain after taking the drug may have an ectopic (tubal) pregnancy and should get immediate medical help.
How well does it work?
Since there are only a handful of days each month when pregnancy is possible, many take Plan B One-Step when it will have zero impact on pregnancy risk. However, studies suggest if taken within 72 hours (3 days) after unprotected sex it reduces pregnancy up to 89%. If taken within 24 hours, it is about 95% effective. Please remember Plan B has no impact on preventing STI’s.
What else should you know?
There are no long-term studies on the safety of using this drug frequently over long periods of time. It does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases or infections.
At Clarity Pregnancy Services, we do not provide or refer for the morning after pill. We would be happy to speak with you more about this option, if you would like. Just stop by or contact the center nearest you.
Sources: Before You Decide magazine, the morning-after pill by Vicki L. Dihle, PA-C
by Clarity Cares | Mar 26, 2018 | Abortion
No one needs to know about my abortion; it’s my private matter! Why should I expose myself to condemnation or rejection? What good will it do? These are thoughts many women and men use to justify their keeping an abortion secret.
Secret-keeping has a profound impact on our lives. The difference between privacy and secrecy is shame. Our shame stories carry enormous power. So much so, that we may not even realize how much the secret controls us.
We are not meant to carry burdens alone. Vulnerability can open the door to release the power of our shameful secrets. Maya Angelou said, “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside of you.”
You may know someone who hides the truth about his/her abortion(s). They may not realize this hidden secret could be the source of their depression, anger, addictions, or nightmares. Post-traumatic stress after abortion is real. We cannot overcome and thrive on our own. Often times, we need someone to come alongside and say, “Me too.” We need to hear stories of recovery, freedom and healing, to give us hope that life can be different for us, too.
Each year, more women and men say yes to healing after “choice”. They trust the promise of confidentiality and compassion when they make a call or send an email to someone who cares and who can relate in a personal way.
New support group 8-week studies or one-on-one support are offered through the Hearts Restored program at Clarity. Pain must come out in a healthy, safe and secure way. When sorrow is unexpressed, our hearts and emotions are broken, and we need restoration through a grieving process.
Step out in faith today and begin to walk your path to restoration!
Privately contact:
Sue at 812.567.3150 or WomensHeartsRestored@claritycares.org
Don at 812.720.0802 or MensHeartsRestored@claritycares.org
