Emergency Contraception
Emergency contraception is for just those times: emergencies. You should always use another method of birth control, be it barrier or hormonal.
However, there are emergencies when you need to prevent conception after sex. This might be if the condom broke or slipped. You might have been forced to have unprotected vaginal sex. You could have miscalculated your safe days, or your cap, shield, or diaphragm could have slipped. You might have missed a pill and not used a back-up barrier method.
If you need emergency contraception, you can call Planned Parenthood at 1-800-230-PLAN to get information on emergency contraception.
Emergency contraception will not terminate pregnancy. It simply prevents pregnancy.
There are three methods of emergency contraception. You can take a special emergency contraception pill, such as Plan B. You can take a higher than normal dose of a normal birth control pill. You can also have an IUD (intra-uterine device) inserted.
The benefit of taking an emergency contraception pill is that is normally cheaper than buying a whole month of birth control pills. The benefit of taking birth control pills is that you might already have some on hand. You need to find out the exact number to take if you are planning on using birth control.
If you take hormonal emergency contraception, you will most likely feel nauseous. Sometimes it is recommended that you take an anti-nausea medication to help you keep the pills down. If you throw up your EC, talk to your health care provider.
For hormonal emergency contraception, you will take two doses, both within twelve hours of each other. Emergency contraception is most effective when taken within twenty-four hours of unprotected sex; however, it can be taken up to 120 hours after the unprotected sex.
It is not recommended that you get an emergency IUD insertion unless you intend to use an IUD for at least a few years following. IUDs cannot be used if you are at risk for a sexually transmitted disease or infection.
Emergency Contraception Method | Reduces the risk of pregnancy by |
IUD insertion | 99.9% |
progestin-only pills | 85% |
combined hormone pills | 79% |
