Emergency contraceptives
(EC) are methods of preventing pregnancy after unprotected sexual
intercourse. Emergency contraception is often called "morning
after contraception" or "the morning after pill" but
these terms are misleading because emergency contraception can be
used before the morning after or up to three days after, but the sooner
the better and to prevent conception they need to be used within 72
hours.
Emergency contraception
can be used when a condom breaks, after being raped, or any time unprotected
sexual intercourse occurs. Do not use emergency contraceptives as
your only protection against pregnancy if you are sexually active.
Also, they do not protect against sexually transmitted diseases.
EC is safe and
highly effective. High dose hormones are taken after unprotected sex
followed by another dose 12 hours later. Many experts feel it should
be available without a prescription due to its effective and the need
to start taking it as soon as possible after unprotected sex or condom
failure, etc. However, presently in the United States EC does require
to be prescribed by a health care professional.
How
Does It Work?
Like all other hormonal methods of contraception, EC works by delaying
or preventing ovulation, inhibiting fertilization of an egg by sperm,
and/or preventing the implantation of a fertilized egg in the uterus.
The difference is that EC is an emergency high dose of hormones, and
not intended as a regular method of birth control. It is used to help
prevent pregnancy from an unexpected exposure.
How
to Get EC?
Many providers
will call in a prescription without requiring an office visit. No
pelvic exam is necessary. In the U.S. in some states, trained pharmacists
can distribute EC without a doctor’s prescription.
Recognizing the
importance of direct access to emergency contraception here in the
United States, eight states currently allow certain licensed pharmacists
to dispense Plan B® directly to women. These states include Alaska,
California, Hawaii, New Mexico, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire,
and Washington.
A woman should
call her doctor, family planning clinic or Planned Parenthood as soon
as she needs EC. By calling the toll-free, Emergency Contraception
Hotline (1-888-NOT-2-LATE), you can get more information and learn
who provides EC in your area. There is also a Web site (http://www.not-2-late.com)
where you can find EC providers in your zip or area code and get answers
to many questions about EC. EC is often offered in the Emergency Department
of many hospitals in the United States. In the future, this option
may be available without a prescription.
What
Happens Next?
Your next period
might start right on schedule. Otherwise it should come within a week
before or after you would normally have expected it. If your period
hasn’t started more than a week after you expected it, we recommend
getting a pregnancy test. Think
carefully about the situation that resulted in needing EC.
If you are having
sex and not currently using a highly reliable method of contraception,
make arrangements to start one as soon as possible. Your health care
provider may be able to prescribe a starter pack of oral contraceptives
when prescribing emergency contraception. Years
ago EC had a different name (the “morning after pill”),
and it used different ingredients, which sometimes caused unpleasant
side effects, and had to be started within 24 (or 72) hours of unprotected
sexual intercourse.
Side
Effects:
Side
effects can include: nausea and vomiting, and breast tenderness.
These
pills are not the same thing as an abortion since they do not terminate
pregnancy.
See
Plan B® for more specific details
on this product from Duramed
Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
