How does the morning-after pill work?
People can prevent unwanted pregnancies in many different ways. They can use condoms, oral contraceptives, injected contraceptives, IUDs, sponges and more. All of these methods can significantly reduce the chance of pregnancy. For example, condoms, when used properly, reduce the chances of pregnancy by 90 to 95 percent. But if a couple has sex without using a contraceptive, or if the contraceptive fails (for example, a condom breaks), and the woman has no desire to become pregnant, what can she do? On Aug. 24, 2006, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a form of emergency contraception to be sold over the counter to women ages 18 and older. The generic name for this contraceptive is levonorgestrel. It’s also known by the brand name Plan B. The female reproductive system is extremely complex and the menstrual cycle involves several different hormones. Here’s a simplified version of
