Pill of the Month

April 2007- Levonorgestrel (Plan B) 

Uses: For women age 17 and younger, Plan B® is a prescription–only emergency contraceptive. Plan B® is intended to prevent pregnancy after known or suspected contraceptive failure or unprotected intercourse. Emergency contraceptive pills (like all oral contraceptives) do not protect against infection with HIV (the virus that causes AIDS) and other sexually transmitted diseases. 

Mechanisms: Synthetic, biologically active progestin that transforms proliferative endometrium into secretory endometrium and inhibits secretion of pituitary gonadotropins, preventing follicular maturation and ovulation.

Common Side Effects:
The most common adverse events in the clinical trial for women receiving Plan B® included nausea, abdominal pain, fatigue, headache, and menstrual changes. 

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