Dear babygirl95,

No, this is not true. "Morning after pills," also known as emergency contraception, do not affect a woman's fertility.

However, keep in mind that EC is for emergencies — it is not recommended as a form on ongoing birth control, because it is less effective than other forms of hormonal birth control. It can reduce the risk of pregnancy by 75 to 89 percent if started within 72 hours of unprotected sex. On the other hand, when used correctly, other forms of birth control — the pill, the shot, NuvaRing (the ring), and Ortho Evra (the patch) — are up to 99.7 percent effective against pregnancy.

Also, frequent use of EC may cause periods to become irregular and unpredictable.

If you have had unprotected sex within the last 120 hours (five days), and need an appointment to receive EC, please call 1-800-230-PLAN for a Planned Parenthood center nearest you.

Hope this information helps!

Take care,

teenwire.com^® Editors

This column is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have a medical problem, please call toll-free 1-800-230-PLAN for an appointment with the Planned Parenthood health center nearest you.