Yes. Plan B is legal in Texas. It is an emergency contraceptive that works by preventing or delaying ovulation. It is not the same as an abortion pill and does not terminate an existing pregnancy. Other options, like "Ella," are also legal but require a prescription.
Plan B works best when taken within 72 hours after unprotected sex (though it may still be effective for up to 120 hours). It is not the same as “medicated abortion pills.”
This is where the confusion arises about which medications are legal.
Texas’s abortion laws do not prohibit emergency contraception, but they have contributed to confusion and access challenges in some cases.
Last updated: March 2026
Key Takeaways
- Plan B is legal and available over the counter in Texas
- It is not an abortion pill and does not terminate pregnancy
- Ella is also legal but requires a prescription
In short, Plan B is legal, accessible, and not considered abortion under Texas law.
Plan B is Legal in Texas
The state’s strict abortion restrictions have led to uncertainty about which types of contraception are illegal, and the use of contraceptive pills has been declining.
According to the FDA, Plan B works by delaying ovulation and does not terminate an existing pregnancy.
Reports from the American Medical Association show that demand is down by 47% due to concerns about the pills’ legality.
Some of this confusion is due to state lawmakers’ efforts in 2023 to criminalize “morning-after pills” with State House Bill 2709. Still, the measure died in committee, and Plan B remains legal.
Plan B is available over the counter at most pharmacies in Texas, including CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart.
Even Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has offered support in the past for Plan B, calling it a key protection for rape victims in Texas.
“We want to support those victims, but also those victims can access health care immediately, as well as to report it,” Abbott said in 2022. “By accessing health care immediately, they can get the Plan B pill that can prevent a pregnancy from occurring in the first place.”
Emergency Contraceptives vs. Medicated Abortion Pills: Key Differences
| Plan B | Ella | Medication abortion | |
| Legal status | Legal in Texas | Legal in Texas | Generally prohibited in Texas except in limited medical-emergency situations under state law |
| Cost | $11 to $50 | $50, but may be less if covered by your insurance | Up to $800, but typically less |
| Medications | Levonorgestrel | Ulipristal Acetate | Mifepristone and Misoprostol |
| Prescription required? | No | Yes | Yes |
| How to use it | Must be taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex | Must be taken within five days of unprotected sex | First, you’ll take the mifepristone, which blocks your body’s progesterone. You can take the misoprostol immediately or up to 48 hours later |
| Efficacy | Up to 89% effective when taken promptly | Up to 85% effective | Approximately 94% to 98% effective under medical supervision |
| Warnings | It may be less effective at higher body weights, according to some studies | It may be less effective at higher body weights, according to some studies. | It could cause severe bleeding, cramping, or nausea. |
| Is parental permission required for minors? | No (though some clinics may require parental consent for minors) | Yes | Yes |
Is Plan B the same as the abortion pill?
No. Plan B and ella are emergency contraceptives. They work by preventing ovulation before pregnancy begins.
Abortion pills, such as mifepristone and misoprostol, are used after pregnancy has already started. Texas law treats these very differently.
How Plan B Works
“Plan B” is one brand name for levonorgestrel. It is available without a prescription at many pharmacy counters. Plan B is a single pill that stops or delays ovulation, which is when an ovary releases an egg. It does not affect implantation or pregnancy after implantation. That means it does not terminate a pregnancy.
“Medicated abortion pills” are different. This is a two-step process involving two medications, mifepristone and misoprostol. Mifepristone stops a pregnancy, while misoprostol induces uterine contractions, expelling the pregnancy tissue. Misoprostol often causes cramping and bleeding. These are legal under federal law but aren’t much of an option for Texas women because of the state’s strict abortion laws.
Minors can purchase Plan B and other levonorgestrel products over the counter and online without parental permission.
There are also several generic versions of Plan B on the market, including:
- Take Action
- My Way
- Option 2
- Preventeza
- My Choice
- Aftera
- EContra
- AfterPill
Amazon has some options that cost less than $10.
If you can’t afford the pill, you can order a free “Repro Pack” through Every Body Texas, but shipping takes about 2 weeks.
Ella is Another Legal Option
Ella is a brand name for ulipristal acetate, another form of emergency contraception. However, a prescription is necessary. Minors in Texas may face parental-consent requirements when seeking prescription contraceptives, including ella, depending on the provider and program. Access rules can vary, especially after changes to federally funded Title X clinics.” The cost is normally about $50, but it is covered by many health insurance plans. Also, it is less effective for women weighing more than 195 pounds.
Ella also delays ovulation so that sperm cannot find an egg to fertilize.
Ella is not as accessible online. If you need Ella but aren’t comfortable talking to your doctor, Planned Parenthood offers virtual consultations. The medication will be overnighted to you. However, the cost of this service is $85, including shipping costs.
Mifepristone and Misoprostol are “Medicated Abortion Pills”
These medications remain approved under federal law, but Texas law generally prohibits their use for abortion except in limited medical-emergency situations, and imposes penalties on providers who prescribe or distribute them in violation of state law.
There are a few exceptions when prescribing them is legal in Texas, specifically to prevent “substantial impairment of major bodily function.”
However, they are nearly impossible to acquire because prescribing them is typically considered a criminal offense in Texas. That’s because medical professionals who abort pregnancies face criminal penalties under state law. In other words, it’s illegal in Texas for doctors to prescribe, dispense, or mail these two medications that are known for inducing abortions.
Additionally, in August 2025, Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill that allows private citizens to sue anyone who mails, distributes, manufactures, or otherwise provides abortion medication to or from Texas. The law takes effect on Dec. 4, 2025.
Statistics: Access to Birth Control in Texas since 2022
Some research suggests demand for emergency contraception declined after recent legal changes, though estimates vary by study.
In Texas specifically, birth control pill prescriptions declined by about 28%, while emergency contraceptive fills declined by approximately 48% during the study period. Across the most restrictive states overall, declines reached up to 65%.
Emergency Contraception Access for Sexual Assault Victims
Since Texas’s abortion law does not make exceptions for rape victims, it is not legal for victims to be prescribed Mifepristone and Misoprostol. This means emergency contraception like Plan B or ella is often the most immediate option to prevent pregnancy without leaving the state. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean it will be readily available.
Texas law requires healthcare facilities to provide information about emergency contraception to sexual assault survivors. Whether the medication is provided on-site can depend on the facility. You may have to go to a pharmacy or free clinic to obtain or order them online.
FAQs
Is Plan B illegal in Texas?
No. Plan B is legal and available over the counter without a prescription.
Can you buy Plan B under 18 in Texas?
Yes. There is no age restriction for purchasing Plan B.
Is ella legal in Texas?
Yes, but it requires a prescription.
Is Plan B considered abortion in Texas?
No. It prevents pregnancy and does not terminate an existing pregnancy.
Do I have to be 18 to access Plan B?
No. There is no age restriction to acquire over-the-counter emergency contraception. However, after a federal court ruling in December 2022, all Title X clinics in Texas require parental consent for anyone under age 18 seeking birth control, including emergency contraception.
READ MORE: What is the age of consent in Texas?
What is a Title X clinic in Texas?
The Title X Family Planning Program is a federal program established in 1970 that provides preventive health and family planning services. The program is intended to provide low or no-cost health options to low-income or uninsured people. There are more than 150 clinic sites across Texas.
Why do Title X clinics in Texas require parental consent?
Many Title X clinics in Texas currently require parental consent for minors, following recent federal court rulings, though policies may vary by provider. This is because of the 2022 court ruling by U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, who determined that the program violates parents’ rights. In April 2024, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld that decision.
