As we all know, our first choice for contraception doesn’t always work as intended. Virginia has been a little behind getting on the emergency contraceptive bandwagon, but since 2006 there’s a new option. Should you wake up to a worrisome morning after, here’s a possible fix: Plan B is available statewide. Basic info is at go2planb.com.
 Birth control backup: Now easier to snag in Virginia. |
Plan B is an emergency morning-after contraceptive that prevents pregnancy within the first 72 hours of unprotected sex with an 89 percent success rate. It’s different from the better-known RU-486 (the so-called abortion pill) because it doesn’t affect already existing pregnancies. Instead, it stops you from getting pregnant in the first place with a higher dosage of levonorgestrel, an ingredient found in many birth control pills. It consists of two pills taken 12 hours apart. Scarily simple, right?
It’s also remarkably simple to find. Anyone over 18—male or female—can get it anywhere, anytime, without a prescription. All major pharmacies stock it, priced at around $50, with no need to pre-order. It’s also available online (we like mycycle.ch) if you’re looking for something more discreet. The UVA Teen Health Department also recently put in their first order for a batch of Plan B that they will be administering free for anyone under 21.
