Did you know that there are approximately 200,000 unwanted pregnancies in Canada each year? Of these, about 125,000 end in abortion, according to the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (sogc). Dr. Andrý Lalonde, executive vice-president of the sogc, is astounded by this number, but says there is a solution that could reduce these figures by as much as 50 per cent. It's an emergency contraceptive called Plan B (a.k.a., the morning-after pill), and Dr. Lalonde believes that when this pill becomes more accessible, women will gain more options.
Is it effective?
If used correctly, Plan B is between 80 and 90 per cent effective in preventing pregnancy. The treatment consists of two pills, which must be taken 12 hours apart. "The sooner you take it after unprotected intercourse, the more effective it is," says Dr. Jodi Shapiro, obstetrician and gynecologist at Toronto's Mount Sinai Hospital. Best results occur if both pills are taken within the first 24 hours after sex and dramatically decrease after 72 hours. Side effects – nausea or vomiting, irregular menstrual bleeding, breast tenderness and headaches – are minimal and last about 24 hours.
Although Plan B can be effective in preventing pregnancy, it's not a magic pill. "It is very important to remember that Plan B is emergency contraception and is not meant to replace other forms of contraception," says Dr. Shapiro. In fact, the World Health Organization says that women who used emergency contraceptive pills frequently had a greater risk of pregnancy than if they consistently took oral contraceptives or used other methods of protection. And, of course, there is no contraceptive pill that protects against stds.