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Emergency contraception
Definition:
Emergency contraception is a method of birth control that can be used within three days of sexual intercourse. Alternative Names:
Morning-after pill; Postcoital contraception; Birth control - emergency Text Continues Below
Information:
Emergency contraception is a "second chance" method of birth control for women who have had unprotected sexual intercourse or who have had a birth control failure, such as a condom breaking. Unlike most types of birth control, which must be in place prior to intercourse emergency contraception can be used up to 3 days after intercourse. Several types of emergency contraception drugs are available. Most contain hormonal medications that are related to the female hormones estrogen or progesterone. These hormones are similar to the medications in birth control pills, but when used for emergency contraception, they are taken in higher doses. Usually, emergency contraception drugs are taken in 2 doses, given 12 hours apart. Two drugs are specifically FDA-approved for emergency contraception: Plan B (containing levonorgestrel, a progesterone-like medication) and Preven (containing levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol, a medication related to estrogen). Regular types of birth control pills can also be used for emergency contraception. You must take 2 - 5 "regular" pills together to equal a single dose of emergency contraception. Another type of emergency contraception, the intrauterine device (IUD), does not involve any medications. An IUD is a birth control device that is inserted into a woman's uterus by a physician. If the IUD is inserted within 5 days after unprotected intercourse, it also acts as emergency contraception. IUDs are intended to provide long-term birth control for 1-10 years.
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