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Emergency Contraception Overview
Birth Control Method: There are two methods of emergency contraception. They are hormonal, post-coital contraceptives or emergency intra-uterine device insertion. The pill form is also called the "morning after" pill. Currently marketed pill forms of emergency contraception include Preven® and Plan B®.
Description: Emergency contraceptive pills contain either progestin or progestin and estrogen. Insertion of an IUD after unprotected sex is also an effective method of birth control.
How It Works: Emergency contraception works by stopping the release or fertilization of an egg, or by blocking implantation of an egg. It will not cause an abortion. Taking pills or having an IUD inserted needs to be done as soon as possible after unprotected sex (usually within 72 hours), to increase the chances of preventing pregnancy.
Regular birth control pills may be used as emergency contraception under the guidance of your health care provider.
Emergency contraception can be used after unprotected vaginal intercourse. It is usually provided by public hospitals after cases of rape. It is used only in women who are not pregnant from a previous act of intercourse. It is the most effective way to avoid an unplanned pregnancy after the failure of condoms or after unprotected sex.
Effectiveness: According to the Food and Drug Administration, there is an almost 80% reduction in the risk of pregnancy after a single act of unprotected sex when correctly using the pill forms of emergency contraception. Only 1 out of 1000 women will become pregnant after an emergency IUD insertion.
STI Protection: The use of emergency contraception does not prevent the transmission of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV.
Advantages: This is the best way to prevent unintended pregnancy after condom failure or when no birth control method was used. Most symptoms of taking emergency contraception pills clear up within two days. Emergency contraception will not affect an existing pregnancy.
Disadvantages: A small number of women may experience upset stomach or may vomit after taking emergency contraception pills. Anti-nausea pills may be taken to reduce the likelihood of vomiting. Some women may temporarily experience headaches, dizziness, irregular bleeding and breast tenderness.
Obtaining Emergency Contraception: In the United States, emergency contraceptive pills require a prescription. You can get pills from your health care provider, midwife, health department or family planning clinic. Use the emergency contraception hotline to locate emergency contraception in your area:
1-888-NOT-2-LATE
If you choose emergency IUD insertion, contact your health care provider.
Follow Up: Consult your health care provider for complete information on potential side effects, or to answer any questions.
Emergency Contraception Information
By Feminist Women's Health Center (FWHC)
Emergency Contraception (EC) Must be used within 72 hours of intercourse.
What is Emergency Contraception?
Emergency Contraceptive pills are ordinary birth control pills used in high dosages. Commonly known as the "morning-after pill" . EC may be used immediately after unprotected intercourse and up to 72 hours after. Use of EC reduces the risk of pregnancy by about 75%. The proper dosage of estrogen and progestin is very important in the effectiveness of this treatment. The treatment schedule is one dose within 72 hours after unprotected intercourse, and a second dose 12 hours after the first dose.
How do Emergency Contraceptive pills work?
Taking EC provides a short, high, burst of hormone exposure. This disrupts hormone patterns that are essential for pregnancy. Hormone release from the ovary is reduced, and development of the uterine lining is disturbed. These disruptions are temporary, lasting only a few days. EC will not prevent an ectopic pregnancy, nor terminate an already established pregnancy. EC is intended for one-time emergency protection and is not as effective as other forms of birth control.
Risk Factors
Almost all women can use the emergency contraceptive pills, even those who would not choose birth control pills for their regular method of contraception. Although EC is considered safe for most women, it is generally not appropriate for those who have ever had:
- A stroke
- Cancer of the breast or reproductive organs
- Migraine headaches
- A heart attack
- Blood clots in the legs or lungs
- Liver disease
Side Effects
Temporary side effects during treatment with ECPs are fairly common, they include:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Headache
- Breast tenderness
- Dizziness
- Fluid retention
- Irregular bleeding
Getting Emergency Contraception
Emergency Contraceptive pills require a prescription. To find out the clinic or health care provider closest to you, contact the EC Hotline at 1-800-584-9911. Clinics all over the country are listed in the hotline's directory. Sponsors of the toll-free hotline want to make EC information available to everyone quickly and easily, 24 hours a day. When you call the hotline you will get phone numbers for the three clinics nearest you.
If a woman seeking emergency contraception already has birth control pills in her possession, she should call the clinic who prescribed the pills and ask about the proper dosages, or call FWHC directly at 1-800-572-4223 or 425-255-0471.
For more information, contact: http://ec.princeton.edu
For Emergency Contraception Information in Spanish [Espanol], contact:
http://ec.princeton.edu
Emergency Contraception - Instructions
Regular birth control pills are used for Emergency Contraception. Only one type of pill is taken.
The first dose is usually given at the clinic within 72 hours of unprotected sexual intercourse.
The second dose is taken 12 hours after the first dose.
Type of Pill
1st Dose
2nd Dose
Ovral 2 white pills 2 white pills Lo-Ovral 4 white pills 4 white pills Nordette 4 orange pills 4 orange pills Levlen 4 orange pills 4 orange pills Triphasil 4 yellow pills 4 yellow pills Tri-Levlen 4 yellow pills 4 yellow pills Alesse 5 pink pills 5 pink pills Ovrette 20 pills within 48 hours of unprotected sex 20 more pills in 12 hours
Nausea is a common reaction. Taking them with food may help. The nausea is usually mild and should stop within a day or so after treatment. If a woman vomits within an hour after taking your pills, she may need to take additional pills to make up for the ones lost in vomiting.
After EC, your next menstrual period should begin sometime within the next two or three weeks. To make sure you are not pregnant, get a pregnancy test at the clinic that prescribed your pills.
Watch for Birth Control Pill Danger SignsA - Abdominal pain
C - Chest pain, cough, shortness of breath
H - Headaches (severe), dizziness, weakness, numbness
E - Eye problems (vision loss or burning sensation), speech problems
S - Severe leg pain (calf or thigh)
Get Medical Help: if you develop any of the above problems!
The Emergency Contraceptive Treatment (birth control pills) affect those hormones that act on the lining of the uterus and therefore do not prevent a tubal pregnancy. Above warning signs could indicate a tubal (ectopic) pregnancy or other complication requiring medical attention.
Emergency Contraceptive Treatment does not prevent pregnancy from future sexual contact. Use birth control to prevent future pregnancy. Condoms, whether male or female and foam are frequently used at this time because they are easily accessible and don't require waiting until the start of your next period or getting a prescription from a clinic.
For women who wish to resume taking birth control pills: when you start bleeding, count this as the first day of your menstrual period and take your first pill on the next Sunday. If you start bleeding on a Sunday, take your first pill on that same day.
When all else fails, emergency contraception gives women one last chance to prevent pregnancy.
Copyright 1996-97 Feminist Women's Health Center
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Emergency Contraception Information by Sister Zeus
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