What is Plan B? 

Plan B prevents a woman from getting pregnant AFTER she has had unprotected sex.

When would I use Plan B?

Plan B may be a good choice if you had unprotected sex one or more times within the last 72 hours (3 days), and you do not want to become pregnant. Plan B is not as effective as other contraceptive methods and therefore is not recommended for regular use. It should only be used in emergencies, such as:

• The condom broke
• You missed 2 or more birth control pills, or were 2 or more days late starting your pill pack
• Your diaphragm or cervical cap slipped
• You missed your regular contraceptive shot
• You had sex without using a contraceptive
• You were forced to have sex

How does it work?

Plan B may prevent pregnancy by temporarily stopping the release of an egg from a women's ovary, or it may prevent fertilization. It may also prevent a fertilized egg from attaching to the uterus. Plan B will not work if you are already pregnant.

Is it Safe and Effective?

Yes. The FDA had approved Plan B as a safe way to reduce the chance of unwanted pregnancy after unprotected sex.

Plan B reduces the average risk of pregnancy among users from about 8 percent to about 1 percent. After a single act of unprotected sex, correct use of Plan B reduces the risk of pregnancy by 89 percent. Note: Plan B does not protect against sexually transmitted infections.

How do I get Plan B?

• You need a prescription from your healthcare professional to get Plan B.
• Since emergency contraception is time sensitive, you may want to ask your healthcare professional for a prescription of Plan B in advance.
• In addition, since not all pharmacies stock Plan B you should get the prescription filled in advance.

Where do I get Plan B?

GW's Student Health Service
(202) 994-6827
2141 K Street, NW Suite 501
Washington, DC 20052
Call for an appointment or WALK-IN during clinical hours.
Hours: M-R 8:30AM - 6:00PM; F 8:30AM - 5:00PM; S 9:00AM - 1:00PM
Fees: $20 office visit, $20 Plan B (Available in hand, no prescription will need to be filled).

Planned Parenthood
(202) 347-8512
1108 16th Street, NW (Intersection of 16th Street, NW and L Street, NW)
Washington, DC 20036
Call for an appointment or WALK-IN during clinical hours.
Hours: M, W, F 9:00AM - 5:00PM; R 8:00AM - 4:00PM; S 9:00AM - 2:00PM; T (varies every other week, call clinic to verify hours) 9:00AM - 5:00PM or 9:00AM - 8:00PM
Fees: $34 (office visit included; available in hand, no prescription will need to be filled).