

These are easiest to get, either in a pharmacy, store with a pharmacy and over-the-counter medications, or online.

Non-prescription EC includes hormonal pills that contain levonorgestrel.

5 DAY PLAN B HOW TO
Types of Emergency Contraception and How to Get Them Taking more than the prescribed dose will not increase your chance of preventing pregnancy, but it may make you feel sick. You also should not take more than the prescribed dose. You should never take two types of EC at the same time because they may interfere with each other and not work. Morning-after pills are much more expensive than using regular birth control and do not prevent sexually transmitted infections. It won’t prevent pregnancy as well as other forms of birth control like the IUD, implant, pill, shot or ring. But EC is not the best or most convenient long-term birth control method. Taking a morning-after pill whenever you need to is totally safe and won’t hurt you. Emergency contraception is very safe when used correctly. No reports of serious complications have been found. Is Emergency Contraception Safe?Įmergency contraception has been used by millions of people and studied for over 30 years. Another EC option, ella, is available by prescription and may be more effective if you weigh up to 195 lbs. EC becomes less effective the longer you wait Over-the-counter EC may not work as well if you weigh over 165 lbs. Some types of EC can be used up to five days after unprotected sex, but the sooner you take EC, the better. You may have heard the term “the morning after pill ” however, you can take EC up to 72 hours (three days) after unprotected sex. Over-the-counter EC pills work very well, especially when you take it within 24 hours of having unprotected sex. An intrauterine device (IUD) is the most effective type of EC. How Effective is Emergency Contraception?Įmergency contraception works extremely well. In this case, EC will not work and will not end a pregnancy, no matter how early after sex you take it. If ovulation has already occurred and the egg has become fertilized and implanted inside the uterus, or womb, a pregnancy has occurred.

A lot of people don’t know when they ovulate, which makes taking EC as soon as possible even more important. This is why timing is so important, especially if you’re using Plan B or another over-the-counter EC pill. Depending on the day of your menstrual cycle, when you had sex and how soon you take EC all affect how well the EC can prevent pregnancy. Morning-after pills work by temporarily stopping your ovary from releasing an egg. Most ECs use the same hormones that are in regular birth control pills. If your body releases an egg (ovulates) while the sperm are still inside you, the sperm can connect with your egg and cause pregnancy.ĮC pills use hormones or medications to prevent a pregnancy. Sperm can live inside your body for up to 6 days after sex. Pregnancy doesn’t happen right after sex, which is why you are able to prevent pregnancy if you take EC within a few days of sex. How Emergency Contraception Works – Timing is Everything If you don’t know you are pregnant and take an EC method, it will not harm your pregnancy either. If you use EC to try to end a pregnancy, it will not work. EC does not and cannot end a pregnancy and is not intended for that purpose. When used correctly, emergency contraception is safe and greatly lowers your chance of getting pregnant after vaginal sex.ĮC is not abortion medication. For example, maybe you forgot to take your birth control pill or a condom slipped or broke.Įmergency contraception is also a safe and effective option after rape or sexual assault.* Unprotected sex is any sex without hormonal birth control or a condom. If you recently had unprotected sex and are worried you could become pregnant, emergency contraception (EC) may be an option for you.
