Emergency Contraception: Back Up Your Birth Control

Accidents happen. When they do, emergency contraception (EC) give women a second chance to prevent pregnancy. A woman might take ECPs if she forgot to use birth control, if she was sexually assaulted, or if a condom broke. Whatever the reason, ECPs can reduce the risk of pregnancy if started within 120 hours of unprotected sex. The sooner they’re taken, the better. If started within 72 hours of unprotected sex, they can reduce the risk of pregnancy by 75 to 89 percent.

That’s why many health care providers are encouraging their clients to “back up their birth control” — to get a prescription for ECPs, get it filled, and keep it on hand in case they need it. That way, they won’t waste time after unprotected intercourse waiting to get an appointment with a health care provider and get a prescription filled. When it comes to ECPs and pregnancy prevention, time is of the essence!

ECP Options

Women have two options when taking ECPs. One option is called Plan B, the brand name of an ECP product that contains the hormone progestin. Plan B is up to 95 percent effective when taken within 24 hours of unprotected intercourse. Women’s second option is using higher doses of certain birth control pills as emergency contraception. This chart explains which birth control pills can be used as ECPs and how many pills need to be taken.

How They Work

ECPs work by preventing ovulation — the release of an egg by the ovary — or by preventing fertilization — the joining of sperm and egg. Some people confuse ECPs (“the morning-after pill”) with mifepristone (“the abortion pill”). Mifepristone is a drug that is used in medication abortion, which ends a pregnancy. ECPs don’t end a pregnancy — they prevent it.

Just a note: Emergency contraception pills are not recommended as an ongoing form of birth control, because they are not as effective as regular forms of hormonal birth control. For better ongoing birth control options, check out Birth Control Choices for Teens.

Getting ECPs

ECPs are available at Planned Parenthood health centers, as well as college, public, and women’s health centers. Women can get them from private doctors and in most hospital emergency rooms. Most states require women to get a prescription for ECPs from a doctor or clinician, and then a woman can get the prescription filled at a pharmacy. To make an appointment to receive ECPs, call 1-800-230-PLAN for a Planned Parenthood center nearest you, or call 1-888-NOT-2-LATE for a list of providers in your area.

In general, minors don’t need parental permission to get emergency contraception, but there may be certain locations where, for one reason or another, a health care provider will require parental permission.

The Future of ECPs

In December 2003, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s panel of medical experts voted 23 to four in favor of making Plan B available at pharmacies over the counter — or without a prescription — to women of all ages. Nearly two years have passed since the panel confirmed that ECPs are a safe, effective way to reduce the number of unplanned pregnancies, but the FDA has yet to issue a final decision on Plan B’s over-the-counter status. Currently, the FDA is investigating how to allow over-the-counter sales of ECPs to women aged 17 and older, but not to younger teens… The final ruling is expected in late October 2005. Stay tuned!