Emergency Contraception
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Emergency Contraception is a Second Chance at Birth Control.
Emergency Contraception should be taken as soon as possible, but can be taken up to 5 days after unprotected sex. EC is not effective if you are already pregnant since it is a contraceptive and cannot terminate an implanted pregnancy. EC will not protect against sexually transmitted infections. EC is not intended to be used as a regular form of birth control. It is meant as a second chance to prevent pregnancy.
Didn't they use to call this the "Morning After Pill"?
Yes. Emergency Contraception has been called the "Morning After Pill" and the "Morning After Treatment". We now refer to it as "Emergency Contraception" or "Plan B" because it can be used for up to 5 days after unprotected sex, not just the "morning after". EC is NOT the same as RU-486, or the abortion pill, which ends an early pregnancy. EC helps prevent pregnancies from occurring.
When Should I Use EC?
There are many occasions when you may need Emergency Contraception including the following:
- the condom broke or slipped off
- forgot to take a birth control pill or was more than 6 hours late taking it and did not use back up
- the diaphragm or cervical cap slipped out of place or was inserted incorrectly
- late for Depo-Provera® shot
- pressured or forced to have unprotected sex
- sexually assaulted
- caught up in the moment and didn't use protection
- didn't realize you needed to use protection the first time you had sex
How do they work?
Emergency Contraception may:
- inhibit ovulation (to prevent the release of an egg)
- thicken cervical mucus (to prevent sperm from getting to an egg)
- prevent implantation by disrupting the uterine lining
EC is similar to a high dose of birth control pills and it is meant to be taken in two doses. While it is recommended that ECs be taken as soon as possible for maximum effectiveness, it can be taken for up to five days from unprotected sex.
How Effective Is EC?
Emergency Contraceptive Pills containing only progestin (Plan B®) reduce the risk of pregnancy after unprotected sex by 75%; combined estrogen-progestin pills (Preven®, and EC made from regular birth control pills) reduce the risk by 75%. Recent clinical data also suggests that the sooner EC is taken the more effective it is.
What does a reduced risk of 75% really mean? In simper terms, it translates into this: If 100 women use EC after having unprotected sex, only 2 of them will get pregnant. Without EC, approximately 8 of the 100 women would have become pregnant.
Is EC Safe?
Yes. The United States Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has approved EC as a safe way to reduce the chance or pregnancy after unprotected sex or failed birth control.
- Women should not take EC if they have the following:
- an allergy to any ingredient in EC
- current migraine with neurological impairment
Conditions to evaluate - history of stroke and blood clots (progestin only EC may be safer than combined EC)
- diabetic women should monitor their insulin carefully while taking EC
What Are The Side Effects?
EC may make some women feel sick to their stomach or vomit. Some women may have sore breasts or headaches. These side effects last about one day. EC can also cause some women's periods to come a little early or late. They do not affect a woman's ability to become pregnant in the future.
Where Can I Get EC?
- the Emma Goldman Clinic
- a hospital emergency room
- a doctor or health clinic
- a campus health center
- a family planning clinic
- a participating pharmacy
If you are under the age of 18, you will need a prescription to pick it up at the pharmacy.
How Long Will I Be At The Emma Goldman Clinic To Get EC?
If you are 18 years and older, you can stop by anytime when we are open to pick up EC. You will just need to bring an ID for verification.
If you are a new client who is under age 18, please call us to schedule an appointment. You can expect to be in the clinic for about half an hour. You will need to complete a health history form and give a urine sample. A pregnancy test is performed to rule out an existing pregnancy. If you are an existing client at EGC who is under age 18, you are eligible for "EC to Go". No appointment is necessary and it can be purchased in advance of need. For questions about the "EC to Go" service please call us during our business hours at 1800-848-7684.
Is there any other EC options besides Preven® and Plan B®?
These are all the brands of pills currently approved by the FDA to be used as EC. Take two doses, twelve hours apart, with the amount of pills listed in the column on the right. (list coming soon)
