Emergency contraception refers to a back-up method of birth control that can be used in the following situations:
- You didn't use any birth control
- Your condom came off or broke
- Your diaphragm/cervical cap moved out of proper position during vaginal intercourse
- You missed one or more birth control pills
- You were late starting your pill pack
- You were late getting your Depo-Provera shot
- You were forced to have sex
- The male partner didn’t pull out in time
- You didn’t have intercourse, but semen came near the vagina
- You miscalculated the non-fertile days and didn’t use contraception
There are two main methods of emergency contraception:
Emergency Contraceptive Pills (ECP)
WHAT IS IT?
Emergency Contraceptive Pills (ECP) are most commonly referred to as the “morning-after pill”. Sometimes this method is given as a high dose of birth control pills, which will typically contain both estrogen and progestin. This is called the Yuzpe method.
Another option is Plan B®, which only has progestin (levonorgestrel). A woman can take one pill and then another 12 hours later or can take both pills together.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
ECP may work by one of several mechanisms:
• It can keep the egg from leaving the ovary
• It can keep the sperm from meeting the egg
• It can keep the fertilized egg from attaching to the uterus
It does not cause disruption to the embryo once fertilization has occurred. In other words, ECP prevents pregnancy, but does not cause a miscarriage or abortion.
HOW EFFECTIVE IS IT?
Estimates vary. Given as a high dose of birth control pills, ECP is about 75% effective in preventing an unplanned pregnancy. Clinical studies have shown that when it is used correctly, Plan B can prevent 89% of pregnancies that would occur if no action was taken. In other words, the risk of pregnancy after a single act of unprotected intercourse is reduced from about 8% to less than 1% when taken within 72 hours of intercourse.
It is recommended that ECP is taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex. However, research shows that it is still somewhat effective up to five days after unprotected sex. The earlier a woman takes ECP, the more effective it is.
WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF USING ECP?
ADVANTAGES:
- only method of contraception used to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex
- available without a prescription from pharmacies
DISADVANTAGES:
- does not work if already pregnant
- has to be used within a limited time frame
- cannot be used as a regular method of birth control
- may cause nausea and/or vomiting
- may cause changes in the next menstrual period
- does not offer protection against STIs
Emergency IUD
WHAT IS IT?
The emergency IUD is the same IUD that is used as a birth control method. The IUD can be used in an emergency to prevent pregnancy up to 7 days after unprotected intercourse occurred.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
The emergency IUD prevents a potential fertilized egg from implanting in the lining of the uterus.
HOW EFFECTIVE IS IT?
Using an emergency contraceptive IUD can prevent more than 80% of unintended pregnancies.
WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF USING AN EMERGENCY IUD?
ADVANTAGES:
- it is more effective than emergency contraceptive pills (ECP)
- the IUD can be kept in place and used as regular method of birth control
DISADVANTAGES:
- may cause cramping and some spotting during and/or after insertion
- costs approximately $80
- requires an appointment with a doctor to have it inserted