![]() But EC is not the best or most convenient long-term birth control method. Taking a morning-after pill whenever you need to is totally safe and won’t hurt you. Emergency contraception is very safe when used correctly. No reports of serious complications have been found. Is Emergency Contraception Safe?Įmergency contraception has been used by millions of people and studied for over 30 years. Another EC option, ella, is available by prescription and may be more effective if you weigh up to 195 lbs. ![]() EC becomes less effective the longer you wait Over-the-counter EC may not work as well if you weigh over 165 lbs. Some types of EC can be used up to five days after unprotected sex, but the sooner you take EC, the better. You may have heard the term “the morning after pill ” however, you can take EC up to 72 hours (three days) after unprotected sex. Over-the-counter EC pills work very well, especially when you take it within 24 hours of having unprotected sex. An intrauterine device (IUD) is the most effective type of EC. How Effective is Emergency Contraception?Įmergency contraception works extremely well. In this case, EC will not work and will not end a pregnancy, no matter how early after sex you take it. If ovulation has already occurred and the egg has become fertilized and implanted inside the uterus, or womb, a pregnancy has occurred. A lot of people don’t know when they ovulate, which makes taking EC as soon as possible even more important. This is why timing is so important, especially if you’re using Plan B or another over-the-counter EC pill. Depending on the day of your menstrual cycle, when you had sex and how soon you take EC all affect how well the EC can prevent pregnancy. Morning-after pills work by temporarily stopping your ovary from releasing an egg. Most ECs use the same hormones that are in regular birth control pills. ![]() If your body releases an egg (ovulates) while the sperm are still inside you, the sperm can connect with your egg and cause pregnancy.ĮC pills use hormones or medications to prevent a pregnancy. Sperm can live inside your body for up to 6 days after sex. Pregnancy doesn’t happen right after sex, which is why you are able to prevent pregnancy if you take EC within a few days of sex. How Emergency Contraception Works – Timing is Everything If you don’t know you are pregnant and take an EC method, it will not harm your pregnancy either. ![]() If you use EC to try to end a pregnancy, it will not work. EC does not and cannot end a pregnancy and is not intended for that purpose. When used correctly, emergency contraception is safe and greatly lowers your chance of getting pregnant after vaginal sex.ĮC is not abortion medication. For example, maybe you forgot to take your birth control pill or a condom slipped or broke.Įmergency contraception is also a safe and effective option after rape or sexual assault.* Unprotected sex is any sex without hormonal birth control or a condom. Though Plan B is generally considered very safe (especially compared to an unplanned pregnancy.), that high dose of progesterone may cause a few potential side effects.If you recently had unprotected sex and are worried you could become pregnant, emergency contraception (EC) may be an option for you. It prevents pregnancy from occurring in the first place it does not terminate an existing pregnancy.) “It works by one or all of the following ways: delaying ovulation, preventing fertilization, and/or preventing egg implantation.” (Reminder: Plan B is not the abortion pill. “Plan B contains a type of progesterone, the same steroid hormone that’s in oral contraceptives, but at a higher dose,” says Iffath Hoskins, M.D., clinical associate professor in the department of obstetrics and gynecology at NYU Langone Health. (TG it's over-the-counter now, right?)īut if you've never taken emergency contraception before, you might be wondering: Does this stuff have any side effects? Your move: Run out to CVS and pick up some Plan B. So the condom broke and you're not on the Pill.
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