If you’ve recently had sex, you may be interested in knowing more about the morning after pill (also often referred to as Plan B).* At Collage, we’ve had many girls come to see us recently with concerns about this drug. Most of them have shared that they want more information. So we want to provide you with an accurate run down about risks you may experience by taking it.

Why you may be considering taking the morning after pill after unprotected sex:

• I was having sex the condom broke
• I’m really normally careful, but this time things got carried away
• I was drinking too much and didn’t use birth control
• I’m on the pill but don’t take it regularly

In order for the morning after pill to be effective, it must be taken within seventy-two hours after having unprotected sex. If there’s any chance you could be pregnant from a previous sexual encounter, the morning after pill wouldn’t be effective. We’ll make every effort to get you in for a pregnancy test appointment within your seventy-two-hour window so that you can make an informed decision. Our staff will sit down with you and help you sort things out.

There are also other things you should consider before rushing to take any kind of drug:

There are potential side effects to taking the morning after pill

Some side effects include:

• Menstrual changes
• Nausea
• Lower stomach (abdominal pain)
• Tiredness
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Breast Pain
• Vomiting

There are other potential risks involved

The morning after pill does not protect you against STDs. If you’ve had any form of sex, protection or not, you’re still at risk for infection and should be tested. At Collage, we provide complimentary testing and treatment for Gonorrhea and Chlamydia, the two most common bacterial STDs. Just give us a call if you’d like to set up an appointment.

A Safe Place

While we do not recommend the morning after pill to our clients, we want you to be informed about all of your options. We promise to be a safe place to talk through your decisions without any pressure. Taking a drug of any kind is a pretty big decision.

Even if you decide to move forward with taking the morning after pill, we acknowledge that this is your decision. If you need someone to talk to later, to help you process we’re still here for you.

We also want to acknowledge that there may have been a time when you had unprotected sex as a result of an assault. We’re so sorry if this has happened to you. We’d encourage you to contact the Grand Island Police, the Grand Island Crisis Center, UNK Campus Police or the Kearney Police right away. Also, the Family Advocacy Network in Kearney is a great resource if you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual assault.

*Please note that the morning after pill and RU486 are two different drugs. For the purpose of this post, we’re only discussing the morning after pill, a drug that is taken after unprotected sex. RU486 ends a pregnancy but has only been approved by the FDA for use up to 70 days or 10 weeks after the last menstrual period.