PLAN B IS NOT THE ABORTION PILL: WHAT EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION IS, AND WHAT IT ISN'T

#1 OB/GYN recommended brand, Plan B One-Step lays out the plain facts on how this emergency contraception works, how it differs from the abortion pill and who can get it

NEW YORK, Nov. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Plan B One-Step today set out the plain facts every woman should have before she needs them: what Plan B is, how it works and what it isn't. The answers, which always live at planbonestep.com, start with the question women ask most: Is Plan B the same as the abortion pill? It is not. Plan B is backup birth control that helps prevent pregnancy before it starts - it does not work if a woman is already pregnant. And Plan B is available without a prescription, without an ID and without an age requirement in all 50 states.

"Every day we hear the same questions, through our call center, on social media and in online forums, and the one we hear more than any other is whether Plan B is the abortion pill," said Tara Evans, VP Marketing, Plan B One-Step. "The confusion is understandable, there have always been persistent myths about this product, and the internet doesn't always get it right. So we want to answer it simply and without judgment. Plan B helps prevent pregnancy. It does not end one."

Plan B One-Step is a single over-the-counter pill that's taken within 72 hours, or three days, after unprotected sex or a birth control failure, such as a broken condom or a missed pill. The sooner it is taken, the better it works. It works by temporarily delaying ovulation, so there is no egg for sperm to meet - no egg, no fertilization, no pregnancy. If a woman is already pregnant, Plan B will not work, and it will not harm the pregnancy.

The abortion pill is something else entirely. It is a prescription regimen of two medicines, mifepristone and misoprostol, used to end an established pregnancy. It is not sold over the counter on store shelves.

Put simply, the difference comes down to before and after. Plan B works before pregnancy begins. The abortion pill is used after a pregnancy has already started.

"When I talk to patients, I explain that emergency contraception is pregnancy prevention, not pregnancy termination," said Dr. Lauren Streicher, a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine. "Once women understand that Plan B simply delays ovulation, they're far more likely to take it."

Just as important is what else Plan B is not. It does not affect a woman's ability to get pregnant in the future. It is also not meant to replace regular birth control, and it does not protect against sexually transmitted infections.

That confusion can follow women right into the store. Plan B is sometimes kept in a locked case, which can send the wrong signal that it is restricted, controversial or requires proof of age. It does not. Plan B is available to anyone of any age, without a prescription or ID, in all 50 states, and anyone can buy it for themselves or someone else.

Knowing where to get it matters just as much. Women can pick up Plan B at the pharmacy or store, or order it on Amazon, through delivery apps such as Uber Eats, DoorDash, Instacart, Gopuff, Grubhub and Shipt, or from CVS, Walgreens, Walmart and Target online for in-store pickup or same-day delivery, often in an hour or less in most cities. No trip to the store, no locked case and no conversation at the counter. And with a four-year shelf life, a box kept in the medicine cabinet will be ready when it is needed.

"Women deserve straight answers, without hesitation or doubt," Evans added. "Our job is to make sure the facts reach them first, plainly and often."

For a deeper look at Plan B emergency contraception, along with answers to frequently asked questions and where to get it, visit planbonestep.com.

About Plan B One-Step
Plan B One-Step is a backup method of birth control used to help prevent unintended pregnancy after unprotected sex or if the usual method of birth control fails. It is not an abortion pill and will not harm an existing pregnancy. Plan B must be taken within 72 hours after unprotected sex. The sooner it is taken, the better it works. Available without a prescription or ID at retailers nationwide, Plan B is safe and accessible in all 50 states. Plan B One-Step is a product of Foundation Consumer Healthcare. For more information, visit planbonestep.com.

SOURCE Foundation Consumer Healthcare