Stocking up on Plan B? Read this first:
Stocking Up on Plan B? Let’s clear some stuff up.
Trump does not really have a huge issues with Plan B because it is sold over the counter. He wants to make hormonal birth control over the counter so that your insurance isn’t required to cover it.
The problem? You really should have your blood pressure and health history checked before taking an oral contraceptive. Certain health histories can increase your risk of DVTs or other negative side effects of hormonal contraception.
Emergency contraception should not be your primary plan for contraception, but it is an excellent next step if your primary method (the pill, condoms, etc) fails. Condoms pop, you may forget two pills in a row, etc.
I’ve heard a lot of folks talking about the need to stock up on Plan B, not to take on a regular basis, but to have on hand in case the rules get stricter. It’s a good plan, but brand name Plan B is $25-60 a dose.
Let’s make this more doable.
If you want to stock up on Plan B, you can buy 6 of the generic for $60 on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Opcicon-One-step-Generic-Plan-CASE/dp/B01DTGXIE6/ref=sr_1_8_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1485308323&sr=1-8&keywords=plan+b
Studies have shown decreased efficacy of hormonal emergency contraception with higher BMIs. Doubling the amount you take will not make a difference. It is not well researched and current research shows that people who are over a BMI of 30 will have less medication in their systems than those under 30.
BMI over 30 and all you have is Plan B? Take it. ASAP, which is why having it in your medicine cabinet is helpful. Just know that it may not be as effective, so be watching your body and follow up with a pregnancy test.
Ella is great emergency contraceptive and is good for up to 5 days post failure of your birth control method. It may work better if you are overweight, but can still be less effective. You can order it online but that is $60. My advice? Go to Planned Parenthood. Have a visit with a provider and get a prescription for Ella. Ask for refills. If you don’t have health insurance, use the GoodRx App, which will drop the price of Ella to about $35. In Denver, Safeways usually have Ella. Other pharmacies may need to order it. If you are planning to “stock up” on Ella, pick up the refills on your prescription for a few months.
Please remember that every medication has an expiry date. Check that when you first get your pack. Know your expiration dates!
If you are on the pill and need to take emergency contraception, it’s important to use a backup methods for 7 days after taking EC.
Additionally, ALL medication of any kind, including supplements and homeopathic meds, should be kept out of the reach of children of all time. If you are planning to make a stockpile of meds to give out in emergencies (remember that is a felony with Ella), I’d recommend having a lockable trunk or safe.
If you have insurance (or have savings) you can also have a Paragard IUD placed as emergency contraception within 5 days of failure of your birth control method.
Paragards are awesome long acting reversible contraception that can last for 12 years or be removed when you are ready for pregnancy.
The Mirena IUD is not approved for EC in the United States.
Posted on January 24, 2017, in Uncategorized. Bookmark the permalink. Comments Off on Stocking up on Plan B? Read this first:.
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