Emergency contraception

A
• B
• C
• D
• E
• F
• G
• H
• I
• J
• K
• L
• M
• N
• O
• P
• R
• S
• T
• U
• V
• W
• X
• Y
• Z

Birth control methods

Hormone-based contraceptives

Intrauterine device

Side sectional view of female reproductive system

Emergency contraception is a method to prevent pregnancy in women who have had unprotected sex, or for whom a barrier method has failed (slipped condom, diaphragm, or cervical cap, or broken condom).

Morning-after pill; Postcoital contraception; Birth control - emergency; Plan B

Emergency contraception may be used following many different situations, including:

• After intercourse in which no birth control method is used
• Sexual assault or rape
• When a condom breaks or a diaphragm slips out of place
• When a woman forgets to take birth control pills

Emergency contraception medicine is not the same as the "abortion pill." A woman who knows she is pregnant takes the abortion pill with the intent to end an early pregnancy (usually 4 to 7 weeks after conception). Emergency contraception pills are taken after unprotected sex to prevent pregnancy from occurring.

---

---

TYPE OF EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION

Several types of emergency contraception drugs are available.

Two emergency contraceptive pills have been approved:

• Plan B One-Step is a single tablet that contains 1.5 mg of levonorgestrel.
• Next Choice is taken as two doses, which each contain 0.75 mg of levonorgestrel. Both pills can be taken at the same time or as two separate doses 12 hours apart.

Birth control pills, if available, can be used for emergency contraception. You must take two to five "regular" pills together to equal one dose of emergency contraception. It is best to talk to your health care provider about the correct dosage before doing this.

An alternative emergency contraception relies on insertion of a copper-releasing intrauterine device (IUD) within 5 days (120 hours) after unprotected intercourse. It can be removed after your next period, or left in place to provide ongoing contraception. The copper IUD reduces the risk of pregnancy by 99.9%.

MORE ABOUT EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTIVE PILLS

Both types Plan B One-Step and Next Choice are available over-the-counter (without a prescription) to women 17 years and older. Women younger than 17 can contact their health care provider to get a prescription for these pills. These pills are still considered safe to use for this younger age group.