Supporting women’s health 

Plan B One-Step maker gives back

The makers of the Plan B One-Step emergency contraception are donating more than 325,000 of the tablets to community organizations across the U.S., helping women access critical health resources.

Foundation Consumer Healthcare, the makers of the levonorgestrel emergency contraception, announced its Community Impact Program donated more than 325,000 tablets and bilingual fact sheets to over 700 advocacy organizations across the country that support women in underserved communities, according to Business Wire. 

“Plan B One-Step is an FDA approved emergency contraceptive pill that you take within 72 hours of unprotected sex or birth control failure,” said a spokesperson for Foundation Consumer Healthcare. “You have up to 72 hours to take it, but the sooner you take it the better it works. It is not an abortion pill and would not harm an existing pregnancy.”

Emergency contraception is free at any Access Esperanza Clinics, which has several locations throughout Hidalgo County, including McAllen, Mission, Edinburg and Weslaco. No appointment or exam is necessary. Access offers many regular birth control methods: the pill, patch, ring, implant, IUD and condoms.

Luz Saavedra, a campus health educator at Access Esperanza Clinics, described the different types of services that Access provides.

“At our clinic we offer all the methods of birth control,” Saavedra said. “Whatever method they are interested in, they could come to us. … For the Plan B, we just require some basic information from people. Most of it is your name, address, date of birth, your income and an emergency contact. It could be a friend; it doesn’t necessarily need to be a parent.”

A pamphlet from Access for Sex-Education states that possible side effects “go away quickly.” The side effects include “dizziness, breast tenderness, belly pain or period cramps, headaches, nausea and bleeding between periods.” 

“EC can affect your next period. It could be early or late, lighter or heavier, shorter or longer, or the same as usual,” according to the pamphlet. “Emergency contraception can’t work if you’re already pregnant, end a pregnancy, hurt your chances of getting pregnant in the future, and protect against sexually transmitted infections.”

Bae-B-Safe is a campus program of Healthy Future of Texas and Talk About It Texas that is committed to connecting young people in the Rio Grande Valley with resources needed to be empowered about their sexual health,” according to the organization’s Instagram page.

Vianca Vieyra, program coordinator of Let’s Talk About It from Student Health Services, said the program has educational initiatives and resources to raise awareness about birth control and emergency contraceptives.

“We have our three workshops that we offer,” Vieyra said. “Plan A is a workshop that is available for students of all genders. It follows four stories of college-aged students and they’re able to discuss the main components of birth control, healthy and unhealthy relationships, and anatomy. And, links to clinics as well.”  

The organization conducts a workshop titled 17 Days “for anyone who identifies as female, and that one addresses your first visit to the gynecology,” she said.

S.H.A.R.P., another workshop, goes over the same topics as well, Vieyra said.

“We have those three different levels,” she said. “All of them also address some more detailed information on emergency contraceptives, what it is, and how it works for a person. So we provide that education.” 

Natalie Palacios, president of the Intersectional Feminist Student Organization, said the group collaborates with other organizers and health-care providers to ensure that individuals obtain accurate information and easy access to reproductive health options on campus.

“Our primary collaboration is with Frontera Fund because they are the ones that donate all the emergency contraceptives we had,” Palacios said. “In the past, we have also been with Planned Parenthood Texas Votes. They’ve been a big help also, and we’re going to have a meeting with them soon to talk about what they can provide us with. And spread more [information] on campus, and provide more emergency contraceptives, condoms and dental dams.” 

“I definitely encourage people to be involved and not feel shy,” Saavedra said. “… Don’t feel ashamed of needing the resources that are available. That’s what we’re here for.”