Can You Take Plan B While on Birth Control Pills?

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Yes, you can take Plan B or another levonorgestrel emergency contraception pill while you are on birth control pills. But you do not always need it, and the next steps depend on why you are considering it.

Plan B is not meant to replace your regular birth control pill. It is emergency contraception, meaning it is used after sex when pregnancy risk may be higher because of a missed pill, late start, condom break, or sex without contraception.

What Is Plan B?

Plan B One-Step is a brand of levonorgestrel emergency contraception. Generic versions include Take Action, My Way, AfterPill, and others. In the US, levonorgestrel emergency contraception is available over the counter.

The CDC lists levonorgestrel emergency contraception as one of the emergency contraception pill options available in the United States. Emergency contraception pills should be taken as soon as possible within 5 days after unprotected sex, although levonorgestrel pills work best the sooner they are taken and are commonly used within 72 hours.

Plan B is not the abortion pill. It is used to reduce the chance of pregnancy after sex, mainly by delaying ovulation.

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When Might You Consider Plan B If You Are Already on the Pill?

You might consider Plan B if:

• You missed two or more active combined pills.
• You started a new pack late after placebo pills.
• You take a traditional mini pill and were outside the allowed time window.
• You had vomiting or severe diarrhea that may have affected pill absorption.
• You had sex without a condom during a pill mistake.
• A condom broke and you are not confident you were protected by the pill.

For combined pills, CDC guidance says emergency contraception should be considered if pills were missed during the first week and sex without a condom happened during the previous 5 days. It may also be considered at other times depending on the situation. See when you need backup birth control on the pill for the full overview.

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When Might You Not Need Plan B?

You may not need Plan B if:

• You took one combined active pill late but less than 24 hours late.
• You missed one combined active pill and caught up quickly.
• You only missed placebo pills and started active pills on time.
• You took your pill correctly and are only anxious.

That said, anxiety is real. If you are unsure, a pharmacist or healthcare provider can help you decide based on your pill type and timing.

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Should You Keep Taking Your Birth Control Pills After Plan B?

Yes. After levonorgestrel emergency contraception, CDC guidance says any regular contraceptive method may be started or resumed immediately. That means you generally keep taking your birth control pill on schedule.

You should use condoms or avoid sex for 7 days after using Plan B and continuing or restarting your regular contraception, unless your healthcare provider gives different instructions.

This is one of the biggest differences between Plan B and ella. Ella has very different restart rules because it contains ulipristal acetate. See ella and birth control pills: when to restart the pill for full details.

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What Side Effects Can Happen After Plan B?

After Plan B, some people notice:

• Nausea
• Fatigue
• Breast tenderness
• Headache
• Spotting
• A period that comes earlier or later than expected
• A heavier or lighter next bleed

These changes can be unsettling, especially if you already took Plan B because you were worried about pregnancy. A changed period after emergency contraception does not automatically mean pregnancy.

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When Should You Take a Pregnancy Test?

CDC guidance advises taking a pregnancy test if you do not have a withdrawal bleed within 3 weeks after emergency contraception.

You may also choose to test if your period or withdrawal bleed is more than a week later than expected, you have pregnancy symptoms, or you had sex during a high-risk pill mistake and want reassurance. Use the instructions on the pregnancy test, and test again or contact a healthcare provider if results are unclear.

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Plan B vs Ella: Do Not Mix Up the Instructions

Plan B contains levonorgestrel. Ella contains ulipristal acetate and requires a prescription in the US. The CDC notes that ulipristal acetate may be more effective than levonorgestrel 3 to 5 days after unprotected sex, but it has special rules with hormonal birth control.

After ella, you generally need to wait at least 5 days before restarting hormonal birth control and then use condoms or avoid sex for 7 days after restarting. So if you took Plan B, keep taking your pill. If you took ella, check the ella-specific restart instructions.

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