Emergency Contraception

You always have access to emergency contraction (Plan B®) at Stanford

• Available at the Vaden pharmacy without a prescription, for anyone (male or female) who is 17 years or older.
• A government issued ID (ie driver's license) is required to verify proof of age.
• Women under 17 can still receive Plan B by making an appointment with a nurse.
• The cost for this product at Vaden is $30.00 (price as of 9/08 is subject to change)
• When Vaden is closed, there are many options in the community:
  • Walgreens in Mountain View is open 24 hours a day
  • CVS Town and Country Shopping Center (formerly Longs Drug Store) - check the web for store hours.
  • Walgreens University Avenue - check the web for store hours.
  • Walgreens @ Cancer Center - check the web for store hours.
  • Check the web for other locations and hours.

Emergency Contraception- Plan B Facts

Plan B FAQs (link)

• Emergency contraception is a backup method for preventing pregnancy, when your regular method failed or was not used. The original version consisted of two hormone pills containing the progestin levonorgestril 0.75mg and is marketed as Plan B®.  There is a newer formulation called Plan B® One-Step which is the same medication combined in one pill (1.5 mg) or the same as taking two 0.75mg pills together.
  
  
• While Plan B® can be highly effective, failures do occur.   The sooner it is taken after an unprotected sexual encounter, (best taken within 24 hours) the greater the efficacy.  You should take a pregnancy test after 3 weeks if you do not get a menstrual period.
  
  
• Plan B® is best used as an emergency measure and not as a regular method of birth control because it is not as effective as birth control pills taken daily.
  
  
• Plan B® works like a regular birth control pill. It mainly stops the release of an egg from the ovary, but may also stop fertilization of the egg (uniting with a sperm), or stop the already fertilized egg from attaching to the uterus (womb). Plan B® will not affect a fertilized egg already attached to the uterus; it will not affect an existing pregnancy.
  
  
• Plan B® will not protect women from HIV or other STDs.
  
  
• Women may experience nausea after taking Plan B®. If you vomit within 2 hours of taking the medication, you should consider repeating the dose.
  
  
• The following side effects may happen:  nausea, dizziness, fatigue, headache, breast tenderness and/or temporary menstrual changes.
  
  
• You should seek immediate medical care if severe stomach or pelvic pain develops. This may be a sign of an ectopic pregnancy.      
  

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