Read this scenario to answer Question 3.

You answer the phone at the pharmacy on a Friday afternoon. A female patient shares that she ran out of refills for her prescription birth control pills and is about to leave for a weekend trip. In addition, she states, “My friend told me about how Plan B can help prevent pregnancy. Can I take it as a substitute for my birth control pills this weekend?”

Based on your understanding of Plan B and the information from the patient, you advise the patient she cannot use Plan B instead of her birth control pills because proper use indicates it is supposed to be taken after intercourse.

Question

Read this scenario to answer Question 3.

You answer the phone at the pharmacy on a Friday afternoon. A female patient shares that she ran out of refills for her prescription birth control pills and is about to leave for a weekend trip. In addition, she states, “My friend told me about how Plan B can help prevent pregnancy. Can I take it as a substitute for my birth control pills this weekend?”

Based on your understanding of Plan B and the information from the patient, you advise the patient she cannot use Plan B instead of her birth control pills because proper use indicates it is supposed to be taken after intercourse.

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

Restating the scenario and the two options to analyze:
- Scenario: A patient asks if Plan B can substitute for her birth control pills, and you explain that it cannot be used as a substitute because proper use is after intercourse, not as ongoing contraception.
- Options to evaluate (as extracted from the provided answer):
  1) cannot
  2) after

Option 1: cannot
- This word is central to the patient’s question about using Plan B as a replacement for her regular birth control pills. The key concept here is that Plan B is an emergency contraceptive and is not intended to replace a daily, ongoing birth control method. Therefore, saying she cannot use Plan B as a substitute correctly captures the limitation of Plan B as a non-substitutive option for routine contraception. Misconceptions to watch for: thinking emergency contraception can fully replace daily contraception, or assuming it has the same mechanism of preventing pregnancy as hormonal birth control pills. The reasoning emphasizes that the purpose and recommended use differ between Plan B and regular contraception, which is why the substitution is inappropriate.

Option 2: after
- This word connects to the intended timing for emergency contraception: Plan B should be taken after intercourse to reduce the risk of pregnancy following unprotected sex or contraceptive failure. Recognizing this timing is correct and aligns with the standard guidance for emergency contraception. Potential misunderstandings to avoid: confusing “after intercourse” with a routine schedule or thinking Plan B is designed to prevent pregnancy before or during intercourse rather than after a potential exposure. The statement correctly reflects the after-intercourse timing of Plan B, distinguishing it from ongoing birth control methods that require daily or regular use.

Integrating both options in the given sentence:
- The sentence asserts that Plan B cannot substitute for birth control pills, and that proper use is to take Plan B after intercourse. Each option contributes to the overall meaning: 'cannot' conveys the incompatibility of Plan B as a substitute, while 'after' specifies the correct timing for Plan B administration. Understanding both points helps a learner differentiate between emergency contraception and ongoing birth control, and clarifies why relying on Plan B as a replacement is inappropriate while acknowledging the correct timing for its use.

To recap the conceptual takeaway: emergency contraception (Plan B) serves to reduce pregnancy risk after a potential exposure but does not replace ongoing contraception; it is used after intercourse, not as a substitute for daily birth control pills. This distinction is essential for safe and effective family planning and aligns with pharmaceutical guidance and standard patient counseling.

PHR 2410 AU2025 (14769) MODULE 5 | Case Study #4 - Part I

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Similar Questions

Emergency contraceptive (the morning-after pill) is a type of abortion.

An emergency contraceptive can be taken up to 120 hours after unprotected intercourse.

Emergency contraceptive (the morning-after pill) is a type of abortion.

An emergency contraceptive can be taken up to 120 hours after unprotected intercourse.

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