HAVING A FUN YET SAFE SUMMER

*This post was developed in collaboration with Plan B One-Step®. 

There’s nothing I love more than summer! There’s something magical that happens in NYC when the weather is warm and beautiful, and the sun sets late. It’s easy to sense the contagious light and carefree vibe of those around me. I always find myself having the most fun during these months because who doesn’t love soaking in the sun and surrounding yourself with the best company? Even among all of the excitement, it’s important to be prepared for life’s unpredictable moments, especially as things heat up. This is one of the reasons why I want to talk about Plan B One-Step ® , also known as “Plan B,” because I want you to have the correct information and feel confident if you ever need to use emergency contraception.

First, I want to start by sharing an experience my friend had with Plan B. Last summer, my friend called me frantically because she wasn’t sure if she had taken her birth control the night before. We had both attended a mutual friend’s party and had a great time, but we definitely didn’t foresee the panicked feeling my friend would experience the next morning. After the party, my friend went home and had unprotected sex with her partner and woke up to the realization that she had forgotten to take her birth control pill. She immediately called me, and I knew in that scenario I needed to remain calm, so that I could be there for her and help her feel supported, as this was an unplanned moment that she hadn’t expected.

I told her to meet me at our local Walgreens, where I knew Plan B was sold. During a previous visit to pick up tampons, I had spotted it on the shelf in the feminine care aisle. My friend and I knew that Plan B was emergency contraception that can help prevent pregnancy before it begins after unprotected sex or birth control failure, but full disclosure – we were not aware of all the facts – like how it actually works or whether there were any side effects. Before I met up with her, I did a quick Google search and found out that Plan works by delaying ovulation, and that it contains the same ingredient as many popular kinds of birth control pills, just at a single, higher dose. This information made my friend feel better since she had been on birth control for a while, so we knew that any side effects would likely mirror those associated with her regular
birth control pill, like nausea or cramping.

After discussing all of the information I had learned with my friend, the panic stricken look on her face gradually disappeared. She was still a little nervous, but she was able to make an informed decision to purchase Plan B (without an ID or prescription!), and I know that information I shared boosted her confidence in the moment.

That day, my friend took the pill less than 24 hours after forgetting to take her birth control, but we learned from the back of the box that it should be taken within 72 hours after unprotected sex, but the sooner you take it, the better it works. As a friend and as a woman, I felt no judgment towards her, and was happy that I could be there to support my friend.

Through my partnership with Plan B, I also learned that Plan B will not impact a woman’s future, or long-term, fertility! I must admit, I had no idea. But it does make sense…if birth control pills don’t impact fertility, then of course Plan B wouldn’t either! I also found out that about 7 out of every 8 women who would have gotten pregnant will not become pregnant after taking Plan B for emergency contraception after unprotected sex.

Life doesn’t always go according to our plans, and I know this from experience. We don’t often talk about these life moments, but when and if we do find ourselves in a scenario similar to my friend’s, where our primary source of birth control wasn’t reliable, or we perhaps forgot to take our regular birth control, it’s important to know all the facts so we can be prepared and aware of our contraceptive health options.

If you want to learn more about Plan B, be sure to read all about it here. Remember to always read the label.