Emergency contraception

Emergency contraception (EC), also known as the morning-after pill, is a type of birth control that can be used by women who have had unprotected sex or used a birth control method that failed. The emergency contraceptive pills are intended to prevent pregnancy after known or suspected contraceptive failure, unprotected intercourse, or forced sex.

Types of Emergency Contraception

There are two types of emergency contraceptive pills: ulipristal acetate (ella) and progestin-only (Plan B One-Step and others).

Ulipristal Acetate

Ulipristal acetate (ella) is a non-hormonal drug that affects the hormone progesterone, which is necessary for pregnancy. ella is available only by prescription.

Progestin-Only

Progestin-only emergency contraceptive pills (Plan B One-Step and others) are available over the counter without a prescription. These pills contain levonorgestrel, a hormone found in many birth control pills.

Effectiveness

Emergency contraception is not as effective as regular contraception and should not be used as a regular form of birth control. The sooner emergency contraception is started after unprotected sex, the better it works.

Side Effects

Side effects of emergency contraception can include nausea, abdominal pain, fatigue, headache, and menstrual changes.

FAQ's

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Plan B emergency contraception

What is emergency contraception?

Emergency contraception is a method of birth control you can use if you had sex without using birth control or if your birth control method did not work correctly. You must use emergency contraception as soon as possible after unprotected sex.

Emergency contraception pills are different from the abortion pill. If you are already pregnant, emergency contraception pills do not stop or harm your pregnancy.

Emergency contraception has also been called the "morning-after pill," but you do not need to wait until the morning after unprotected sex to take it.

Emergency contraception is not meant to be used for regular birth control. Talk to your doctor or nurse about regular birth control to help prevent pregnancy. Nearly half of all pregnancies in the United States are unplanned.1

What types of emergency contraception pills are available?

In the United States, there are two types of FDA-approved ECPs available for emergency contraception:2,3

• ella® (ulipristal acetate)
• Plan B One-Step® (LNG-only) — Plan B One-Step® has several generic versions. Some common generic versions include AfterPill™, My Way®, Next Choice One Dose™, and Take Action™.

How do emergency contraception pills prevent pregnancy?

Research shows that emergency contraception pills work mostly by preventing or delaying ovulation (the release of an egg from the ovary). Less commonly, emergency contraception may prevent fertilization of the egg by the sperm if ovulation has already happened.4,5 If a fertilized egg has already implanted in your uterus (you are pregnant), emergency contraception pills will not stop or harm your pregnancy.6

When should I think about using emergency contraception?

Consider using emergency contraception if you had sex and:

• You didn't use birth control
• You think your birth control didn't work (see the list in the next section)

Consider asking your doctor for a prescription for emergency contraception pills, or having some type of emergency contraception pill already at home or with you in case you need it.

See Also

• Birth control
• Pregnancy
• Sexual health

Womens health A-Z

Glossary of womens health

A

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B

• Bacterial vaginosis
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D

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E

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Q

• None

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T

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W

• Weight loss (and overweight and obesity)

Y

• Yeast infections

External links

A-Z women's health topics

Emergency contraception Resources
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