False claims that the Plan B morning-after pill is hidden in over-the-counter pregnancy tests are resurfacing on social media. The messages claim that if you open the contents of a pregnancy test, you will find an emergency contraceptive pill “hidden” inside.
However, these claims are false.
The so-called pill is actually a desiccant tablet, similar to the tablets found in vitamin bottles, which are intended to absorb moisture and maintain the shelf life of the tests. These claims have long been refuted by medical professionals, as well as the manufacturers of many home pregnancy tests. Clearblue, a company that sells pregnancy tests, even posted a statement on its website saying the small desiccant tablet “should not be eaten.”
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False viral claims about Plan B in pregnancy tests
CBS News Confirmed has identified several social media posts spreading false allegations.
An October 6 post on TikTok has been viewed more than 11.1 million times and has been shared nearly 50,000 times. In the video, content creator Ryan Telfer falsely claims that people find Plan B pills in pregnancy tests and can be seen opening two pregnancy tests to reveal one tablet.
“Guys, I don’t know if this is a major tip or maybe you’re not supposed to take this. I don’t know about you, but it could save a lot of lives,” says -he. in the video.
Doctors and other social media users are also posting online to try to debunk the claims.
In an October 19 TikTok post, Dr. Joe Whittington clarifies that “no over-the-counter pregnancy test contains a Plan B pill.” His post was a direct response to Telfer’s viral post in October.
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” actually is and why people should not ingest it.
The claims are not new. Similar social media posts began spreading in 2019, leading Clearblue to post a statement on its website.
“We have become aware of videos circulating on social networks [in 2019] but I do not know what led to these and associated claims,” a company spokesperson told CBS.
Many of these videos are still online and easily accessible on social media platforms.
The messages reappeared in 2022 after the The Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wadeoverturning the constitutional right to abortion. They resurfaced this year in the run-up to the presidential election, so many people started stockpiling emergency contraceptives out of fear of what a Trump victory could mean for reproductive rights.
Clearblue says it has had very little contact with consumers on this matter, but says it continues to monitor the claims as part of its post-market surveillance process.
Misconceptions about the morning after pill
Even if a Plan B pill was included in the tests, it would not stop a pregnancy. Plan B is an emergency contraceptive, commonly called the morning after pill, designed to be taken immediately after sex to prevent pregnancy. To do this, the pill delays the release of an egg from the ovary so that it is not there to meet sperm, as birth control pills do, according to the Food and Drug Administration. It is not designed to work if a person is already pregnant.
Pregnancy tests work by identifying pregnancy hormones in urine. The Mayo Clinic says it’s best to test on the first day after a missed period, usually about three weeks after unprotected sex. It would be far too late for Plan B to make a difference, as Plan B is most effective immediately after unprotected sex, or at least within 72 hours.
(Photo illustration by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Additionally, desiccant tablets used in pregnancy tests, as well as other common household items, are primarily made of silica. Although Clearblue told CBS News that the desiccant tablets are not toxic, they are not supposed to be consumed. If this is the case, Clearblue recommends that customers drink plenty of water and seek medical attention if they feel unwell.
False Pregnancy Test Claims Offer a ‘Teachable Moment’
Russo, told CBS News confirmed that while it is concerning to see the claims in these videos spreading in the classroom, he sees it as a “teachable moment.”
“While this concerns me, I also like to approach them as ‘teaching moments’ for my students. I wanted to make sure my students knew that not only was this not emergency contraception , but 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 speaking, this makes no sense.
A Guttmacher Institute study shows that only 20 states require sex education programs to provide information about contraception. CBS News medical contributor Dr. Céline Gounder says this could be one reason why people are more likely to believe misinformation they may see online.
“People tend to believe misinformation when they have empty information,” Gounder told CBS News Confirmed. “Americans receive very little formal education about sexual health and have large gaps in knowledge. People are also more likely to believe misinformation on controversial topics and the divisive culture war.”
Russo said this led him “to emphasize the importance of doing your own research without simply believing what you see on the Internet or what you hear from a peer.”
