Update on Plan B

You should always be prepared with condoms and other forms of birth control if you plan on having sex. But we also know that you’re human, and mistakes happen. It only takes one moment of unprotected sex to get pregnant. If you’ve had unprotected sex and aren’t ready for the responsibility of having a baby, you do have an option—emergency contraception, or Plan B.

Plan B, the “morning-after pill,” is 75- to 89-percent effective at preventing a pregnancy when taken within 72 hours (3 days), though you can take it up to 120 hours (5 days) after unprotected sex. The sooner you take it, the better.

Until recently, Plan B was available over the counter if you were 18 or older. Teens under 18 could get Plan B with a prescription. But a recent FDA decision will soon allow 17-year-olds to get Plan B over the counter, too! Sex, Etc. staff writer Emily went to her pharmacy to see what it’s like to buy Plan B. Read her story, “The Long Walk to the Pharmacy.”

Allowing 17-year-olds to get Plan B over the counter will hopefully lead to fewer unplanned pregnancies. Plan B should only be used as a last resort, so it’s important to have a Plan A. What’s your Plan A? Tell us how you make sure you’re protected from both unplanned pregnancy and STDs.