There are lots of reasons the best laid plans for using birth control don’t work out: Show
I completely forgot to take my pill (!)… I just didn’t have enough money to pay for the ring this month… The condom broke… We’d had some drinks and got carried away… Something like this happens to most of us at some point. If you’ve had unprotected sex for any reason, you can still prevent pregnancy by using emergency contraception (EC). Some types of EC are also called “the morning after pill,” and all EC prevents pregnancy after sex. How does it work, and how well?There are two forms of EC: pills and the copper intrauterine device (IUD). All methods of EC available on the U.S. market are safe and most have been used by women for more than 30 years. EC methods differ in terms of effectiveness and side effects. Levonorgestrel EC pillsEC pills work by preventing or delaying ovulation and preventing sperm from fertilizing the egg. You can use EC right away or up to five days after sex. The sooner you use it, the better it works. There are a bunch of EC pills currently on the market in the U.S. that are made with the hormone levonorgestrel. If you take EC pills within 24 hours after sex, they reduce your risk of pregnancy by up to 95%. Overall, they are 89% effective, meaning they prevent about 7 of 8 pregnancies that normally would have occurred. There are several side effects that you may experience when using an EC pill. Some women get a headache, feel nauseous or throw up. Some women feel tired, have mild abdominal pain, or irregular bleeding. These side effects clear up after one or two days. Your next period may start earlier or later than normal, or be heavier or lighter than normal. Most women will have their period within a week of taking EC pills.** The newest EC pill: ellaAnother EC pill called ella contains a different type of drug called an anti-progestin (ulipristal acetate). Studies show that ella is safe and more effective than levonorgestrel EC pills at preventing pregnancy, especially when used 3-5 days after unprotected intercourse. The copper-T IUD as ECThe copper IUD is a small, flexible intrauterine device (IUD) that can be inserted up to 5 days after unprotected sex to prevent pregnancy. When you use the IUD as EC, it works by preventing sperm from fertilizing the egg or by preventing the egg from implanting in the uterus. It is much more effective than EC pills; it reduces your risk of getting pregnant by over 99%. If you would like a hassle-free, highly effective method of birth control for the longer term, the copper IUD could be a good choice for EC. Looking for EC now?Levonorgestrel EC pills are available over-the-counter in the U.S. with no age restrictions. To get ella you will need a prescription, which the pharmacist may be able to write in some states. Most pharmacies carry at least one kind of EC, but you may want to call ahead to check, or use our EC search tool. Depending on where you live and what health coverage you have, levonorgestrel EC pills range in price from free to $45 and ella ranges from free to $60. If you’d like to use a copper-T IUD for EC, it must be inserted by a health care provider. If you have health insurance, there’s a good chance it will be totally covered. Talk to someone at your local clinic or your health care provider for more information. Next time…It’s not recommended to take EC pills repeatedly simply because they’re not as effective as birth control methods you use before sex—and they can be expensive if you pay for them out-of-pocket. However, if you don’t have other good options, or if you want to back up your method from time to time, it’s perfectly safe to take EC whenever you need it. **Note: If you have packets of the pill, you may be able to use regular birth control pills as EC. Read “The Yuzpe method: Effective emergency contraception dating back to the ‘70s” to learn more. Emergency contraception can prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex or if the contraception you have used has failed – for example, a condom has split or you have missed a pill. There are 2 types of emergency contraception: Levonelle contains levonorgestrel, a synthetic (man-made) version of the natural hormone progesterone produced by the ovaries. Taking it's thought to stop or delay the release of an egg
(ovulation). Levonelle has to be taken within 72 hours (3 days) of sex to prevent pregnancy. It doesn't interfere with your regular method of contraception. ellaOne contains ulipristal acetate, which stops progesterone working normally. This also works by stopping or delaying the release of an egg. ellaOne has to be taken within 120 hours (5 days) of sex to prevent
pregnancy. Levonelle and ellaOne don't continue to protect you against pregnancy – if you have unprotected sex at any time after taking the emergency pill, you can become pregnant. They aren't intended to be used as a regular form of contraception. But you can use emergency contraception more than once in a menstrual cycle if you need to. Most women can use the emergency contraceptive pill. This includes women who can't use hormonal contraception, such as the combined pill and contraceptive patch. Girls under 16 years old can also use it. But you may not be able to take the emergency contraceptive pill if you're allergic to anything in it, have severe asthma or take any medicines that may interact with it, such as:
ellaOne can't be used if you're already taking one of these medicines, as it may not work. Levonelle may still be used, but the dose may need to be increased. Tell a GP, nurse or pharmacist what medicines you're taking, and they can advise you if they're safe to take with the emergency contraceptive pill. You can also read the patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine for more information. BreastfeedingLevonelle is safe to take while breastfeeding. Although small amounts of the hormones in the pill may pass into your breast milk, it's not thought to be harmful to your baby. The safety of ellaOne during breastfeeding isn't yet known. The manufacturer recommends that you don't breastfeed for one week after taking this pill. If you're already using regular contraceptionYou may need to take the emergency pill if you:
If you have taken Levonelle, you should:
Use additional contraception, such as condoms, for:
If you have taken ellaOne:
Use additional contraception, such as condoms, until you restart your contraception and for an additional:
A GP or nurse can advise further on when you can start taking regular contraception and how long you should use additional contraception. Side effects of using the emergency pillThere are no serious or long-term side effects from taking the emergency contraceptive pill. But it can cause:
See a GP or nurse if your symptoms don't go away after a few days or if:
Can I get the emergency contraceptive pill in advance?You can get the emergency contraceptive pill in advance of having unprotected sex if:
See a GP or nurse for further advice on getting advance emergency contraception. You can also talk to them about your options for regular methods of contraception. How the IUD works as emergency contraceptionThe intrauterine device (IUD) is a small, T-shaped plastic and copper device that's put into your womb (uterus) by a doctor or nurse. It releases copper to stop the egg implanting in your womb or being fertilised. The IUD can be inserted up to 5 days after unprotected sex, or up to 5 days after the earliest time you could have ovulated (released an egg), to prevent pregnancy. You can also choose to have the IUD left in as an ongoing method of contraception. How effective is the IUD at preventing pregnancy?The emergency IUD is the most effective method of emergency contraception – less than 1% of women who use the IUD get pregnant. It's more effective than the emergency pill at preventing pregnancy after unprotected sex. Who can use the IUD?Most women can use an IUD, including those who are HIV positive. A GP or nurse will ask about your medical history to check if an IUD is suitable for you. The IUD might not be suitable if you have:
The emergency IUD won't react with any other medicines you're taking. Pregnancy and breastfeedingThe IUD shouldn't be inserted if there's a risk that you may already be pregnant. It's safe to use when you're breastfeeding and it won't affect your milk supply. Side effects of the IUDComplications after having an IUD fitted are rare, but can include:
Where can I get emergency contraception?Getting it for freeYou can get emergency contraception for free, even if you're under 16, from these places, but they may not all fit the IUD:
Find your nearest sexual health clinic Find your nearest pharmacy Buying itIf you're aged 16 or over, you can buy the emergency contraceptive pill from most pharmacies, in person or online, and from some organisations, such as the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS). The cost varies, but it will be around £25 to £35. Contraception for the futureIf you're not using a regular method of contraception, you might consider doing so to protect yourself from an unintended pregnancy. There are several methods of contraception that protect you for a long period, so you don't have to think about them once they're in place, or remember to use or take them every day or every time you have sex. These methods include the:
See a GP, nurse or visit your nearest sexual health clinic to discuss the options available. If you're under 16 years oldContraception services are free and confidential, including for people under the age of 16. If you're under 16 and want contraception, the doctor, nurse or pharmacist won't tell your parents (or carer) as long as they believe you fully understand the information you're given, and the decisions you're making. Doctors and nurses work under strict guidelines when dealing with people under 16. They'll encourage you to consider telling your parents, but they won't make you. The only time a professional might want to tell someone else is if they believe you're at risk of harm, such as abuse. The risk would need to be serious, and they would usually discuss this with you first. Page last reviewed: 22 February 2018 Can I take normal birth control pills after intercourse?Combined oral contraceptives must be taken in higher doses (multiple pills) within 72 hours after unprotected intercourse, and repeated 12 hours later. For progestin-only pills, which do not contain estrogen, the initial dose should be taken within 48 hours of exposure and repeated in 12 hours.
How long does the pill take to stop pregnancy?For the first 7 days after someone starts taking the Pill, they should use a second form of contraception, such as condoms, to prevent pregnancy. After 7 days, the Pill should work alone to prevent pregnancy.
Can taking the pill stop a pregnancy?The pill prevents the ovaries from releasing an egg each month (ovulation). It also: thickens the mucus in the neck of the womb, so it is harder for sperm to penetrate the womb and reach an egg. thins the lining of the womb, so there is less chance of a fertilised egg implanting into the womb and being able to grow.
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Can a birth control pill stop pregnancy after intercourse
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