Martinis and Mascara is not only beauty-positive and body-positive, but also a sex-positive, judgment-free zone. So, when my friends at Her Campus reached out with the opportunity to spread the word about Plan B One-Step^®, I couldn’t say no.

There’s this preconceived notion that it’s weird or taboo to discuss emergency contraception, but there shouldn’t be. Life happens and it’s important to be aware of the options you have when it does. There are also a variety of myths about emergency contraception and the “type of girl” who uses it… and I have quite a few things to say about that.

Plan B One-Step^® has literally been used by millions of women*, myself included, and I am absolutely not ashamed to admit that. In fact, I’m thankful that an option like this exists because, well, things happen sometimes.

Condoms break, you forget to take your birth control pill, whatever. It doesn’t mean you’re reckless, it means you’re human. And as a human, it’s important to take the risk of unintended pregnancy seriously.

Plan B One-Step^® emergency contraception is a backup plan that helps prevent pregnancy when used as directed and taken within 72 hours (3 days) after unprotected sex or birth control failure. The sooner it’s taken, the better it works. It should be used as directed. It’s now readily available over the counter, and can usually be found in the family planning aisle at many retail stores. No prescription or ID is required, and there is no age restriction.

It contains levonorgestrel, the same hormone used in many birth control pills—just at a higher dose. Plan B One-Step^® is not an abortion pill. It will not work if you are already pregnant and will not affect an existing pregnancy. About 7 out of every 8 women who would have gotten pregnant will not become pregnant after taking Plan B One-Step^® as directed.

Before I used it, I was super nervous because there were some ugly rumors floating around my high school that got me thinking I’d be ill after taking it. Some women may experience side effects, such as a period that is lighter, heavier, early or late; nausea; lower abdominal pain/cramps; tiredness; headache; dizziness; breast tenderness; and vomiting.

If you have any questions about whether you should take Plan B One-Step^®, you should ask your healthcare professional. Learn more about Plan B One-Step^® at www.PlanBOneStep.com. Use as directed.

*FDA drug use review, December 2011. https://www.fda.gov/downloads/AdvisoryCommittees/CommitteesMeetingMaterials/PediatricAdvisoryCommittee/UCM288778.pdf.

[This post was sponsored by Plan B One-Step^® via Her Campus, but all opinions are my own.]