False claims about a Plan B morning-after pill hidden in over-the-counter pregnancy tests are resurfacing on social media. The reports claim that if you split open the contents of a pregnancy test, you will find an emergency contraceptive pill “hidden” inside.
However, the claims are false.
The so-called pill is actually a dry tablet, similar to the tablets in vitamin bottles, which are intended to absorb moisture and extend the shelf life of the tests. The claims have long been debunked by medical professionals, as well as the manufacturers of many home pregnancy tests. Clearblue, a company that sells pregnancy tests, even has a statement on its website saying that the small desiccant tablet “should not be eaten.”
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Viral false claims about plan B in pregnancy tests
CBS News Confirmed has identified several social media posts spread the false claims.
An October 6 post on TikTok has been viewed more than 11.1 million times and shared almost 50,000 times. In the video, content creator Ryan Telfer falsely claims that people find Plan B pills in pregnancy tests and that he splits open two pregnancy tests to reveal a tablet.
“Guys, I don’t know if this is a major life hack, or if maybe you’re not supposed to use this. I don’t know about you, but this could save a lot of lives,” he says. in the video.
Doctors and other social media users are also posting online in an attempt to debunk the claims.
In an October 19 TikTok post, Dr. Joe Whittington that “no over-the-counter pregnancy test contains a Plan B pill.” His post was a direct response to Telfer’s viral October post.
Similarly, an October 25 Instagram post from Nicholas Russo, a ninth-grade health education teacher in New Jersey, currently has 450,000 views as he explains to his students what this “pill” really is and why people shouldn’t take it .
The claims are not new. Similar social media posts first started spreading in 2019, leading Clearblue to post a statement on its website.
“We became aware of videos circulating on social media [in 2019] but I do not know what led to this and associated claims being filed,” a company spokesperson told CBS.
Many of these videos are still online and easily accessible on social media platforms.
Posts reappeared in 2022 after the The Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wadereversing the constitutional right to abortion. This year they resurfaced in the run-up to the presidential elections. as many people started stocking up on emergency contraception out of fear of what a Trump victory could mean for reproductive rights.
Clearblue says they have had very little consumer contact on this subject, but say they continue to monitor the claims as part of their post-market surveillance process.
Misconceptions about the morning-after pill
Even if a Plan B pill came with the tests, it wouldn’t stop a pregnancy. Plan B is an emergency contraceptive, commonly known as the morning-after pill, intended to be taken immediately after a sexual encounter to prevent pregnancy. The pill does this by delaying the release of an egg from the ovary so that it doesn’t come into contact with sperm, similar to birth control pills, according to the Food and Drug Administration. It is not designed to work if someone is already pregnant.
Pregnancy tests work by identifying pregnancy hormones in the urine. Mayo Clinic says it’s best to test the first day after a missed period, usually about three weeks after unprotected sex. This would be far too late for Plan B to make any difference, as Plan B is most effective immediately after unprotected sex, or at least within 72 hours.
(Photo illustration by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
In addition, the desiccant tablets used in pregnancy tests, as well as other common household items, are usually made of silica. While Clearblue told CBS News the desiccant tablets are non-toxic, they should not be eaten. If this is the case, Clearblue recommends that customers drink plenty of water and consult a doctor if they feel unwell.
False claims about pregnancy tests offer a ‘teachable moment’
Russo told CBS News Confirmed that while it is concerning to see the claims in these videos filter into the classroom, he sees it as a “teachable moment.”
“While it does concern me, I also like to approach them as ‘teachable moments’ for my students. I wanted to make sure my students knew that not only was it not emergency contraception, but that it was also not safe for human consumption. Russo said.
He also pointed out the price difference between a pregnancy test and Plan B pills, saying, “Plan B costs about $40 to $50, and the pregnancy test costs about $10. So logically that doesn’t make sense.”
A Guttmacher Institute study found that only 20 states require sex education programs to provide information about contraception. Dr. CBS News medical contributor Celine Gounder says this may be one reason why people are more likely to believe the misinformation they see online.
“People tend to believe misinformation and disinformation when there is a gap in information,” Gounder told CBS News Confirmed. “Americans receive very little formal education about sexual health and have large gaps in their knowledge. People are also more likely to believe misinformation and disinformation about controversial topics and culture wars, confusing issues.”
Russo said this has led him to “emphasize the importance of doing your own research, without simply believing what you see on the Internet or hear from someone else.”
