Plan B vs. Plan C: What's the Difference?
The names sound similar, but they do very different things.
And when you're already stressed about a possible pregnancy, trying to sort through all the terms online can make things feel even more confusing.
Here's the simplest difference:
Plan B is emergency contraception intended to help prevent pregnancy.
Plan C is a term commonly used for medications intended to end an existing pregnancy.
If you're not sure whether you're pregnant or which information applies to you, you don't have to figure it out alone.
LifeBridge offers free pregnancy testing and, when appropriate, a fast, no-cost ultrasound referral so you can better understand what's happening in your body before deciding what comes next.
What Is Plan B?
Plan B is emergency contraception. It's intended to reduce the chance of pregnancy after unprotected sex or contraceptive failure, such as a broken condom.
Plan B contains levonorgestrel, which works primarily by delaying or preventing ovulation.
The important distinction is this:
Plan B does not end an existing pregnancy and is not the abortion pill.
It's intended to be taken as soon as possible after unprotected sex, before a pregnancy has been established.
What Is Plan C?
"Plan C" is a term commonly used online to refer to medication abortion, also known as the abortion pill.
Medication abortion typically involves two medications:
- Mifepristone, which blocks progesterone, a hormone needed for a pregnancy to continue.
- Misoprostol, which causes the uterus to contract and empty.
Unlike Plan B, Plan C is intended to end a pregnancy that has already begun.
Plan B vs. Plan C
Plan B and Plan C are not the same thing.
Plan B is emergency contraception. It contains levonorgestrel and is intended to help prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex by delaying or preventing ovulation.
Plan C is a term commonly used for medication abortion. It typically involves mifepristone and misoprostol and is intended to end an existing pregnancy.
If your period is late after taking Plan B or after unprotected sex, a pregnancy test is the best place to start.
If you've already had a positive pregnancy test and you're considering Plan C, it can be helpful to learn more about how far along you are and where the pregnancy is developing before moving forward.
The simplest way to remember it:
Plan B helps prevent pregnancy.
Plan C ends an existing pregnancy.
What If My Period Is Late?
If your period hasn't started when expected, your first question may simply be:
Am I pregnant?
That's worth answering before jumping ahead to what you should do next.
A late period can happen for several reasons, including stress, illness, hormonal changes, travel, or changes in exercise and weight.
A pregnancy test is the simplest place to start.
LifeBridge offers free lab-quality pregnancy testing in Newberry and Irmo, so you can get an answer without worrying about cost or insurance.
What If My Test Is Positive?
A positive pregnancy test gives you one important answer.
But it may also bring up a whole new list of questions.
Questions like:
- How far along am I?
- Where is the pregnancy developing?
- What pregnancy options apply to me?
- What should I expect if I'm considering the abortion pill?
That's where additional information, including an ultrasound when appropriate, can be valuable.
Why Might I Need an Ultrasound?
An ultrasound can provide information a pregnancy test can't, including:
- How far along the pregnancy is
- Where the pregnancy is developing
- Whether additional medical evaluation may be needed
This can be especially important if you're considering Plan C or the abortion pill.
For example, the abortion pill does not treat an ectopic pregnancy, which develops outside the uterus and can become a medical emergency.
South Carolina also currently requires an obstetric ultrasound before a legal abortion, and how far along you are can affect what abortion options are legally available.
If an ultrasound is recommended, LifeBridge can coordinate a fast, no-cost referral with a trusted local provider. Ultrasounds are often available the same week.
Not Sure What You Want?
You don't have to know yet.
Maybe you're researching Plan B because you recently had unprotected sex. Maybe you've already had a positive pregnancy test and you're looking into Plan C. Or maybe you're somewhere in between and just trying to understand what's happening.
Your next step doesn't have to be making a final decision.
It can simply be getting answers.
At LifeBridge, you can talk honestly about your situation, ask questions, and learn about your pregnancy and options without being pressured toward a particular decision.
Because LifeBridge is a community-funded nonprofit, it does not profit from what you decide. The center provides free pregnancy health services, pregnancy options information, ongoing support, and connections to community resources.
Start With What You Know
When everything feels urgent, it can be tempting to figure out the entire situation at once.
You don't have to.
Start by finding out what's actually happening in your body.
At LifeBridge, you can receive:
- Free lab-quality pregnancy testing
- A fast, no-cost ultrasound referral when appropriate
- Private, unrushed time to ask questions
- Personalized information about your pregnancy and options
- Connections to free community resources and ongoing support
Prefer to text first? Talk with our nurses at (803) 990-3323. Same-day appointments are sometimes available.
Sources
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Emergency Contraception.
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Medication Abortion Up to 70 Days of Gestation.
- U.S. Food & Drug Administration. Mifepristone Information.