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EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION (Plan B)
Any time you have intercourse without protection you are at risk for becoming pregnant. However, it is possible to prevent pregnancy by taking hormone pills (called emergency contraceptive pills, or the "morning after" pill) shortly afterwards. If you have had unprotected sexual intercourse, you may want to consider emergency contraception.
When is sex considered unprotected?
- No contraception is used.
- Withdrawal: He "pulls-out" before he ejaculates at any point in your cycle.
- Condoms: It rips or tears or falls off at some point during sex.
- Diaphragm: It becomes dislodged or is taken out too soon after sex.
- Birth control pills: You are in the first week after starting birth control pills, you skip two or more days of pills, or you are on antibiotics and do not use a back-up birth control method.
- Ortho-Evra Patch and Nuva Ring: You are in the first week of use and do not use a back-up method
- Depo Provera: You are over 7 days past due for your next shot or have been on it for less than a week.
There are different types of emergency contraception. Each is used slightly differently. For maximum effectiveness, emergency contraception should be taken as soon as possible after unprotected intercourse.
When should I take emergency contraception?
Plan B is 89% effective within the first 72 hours after unprotected intercourse, and you should try to take it within this 3-day period. Newer research indicates, however, that emergency contraceptive pills may be effective up to 5 days after unprotected intercourse. For maximum effectiveness, you should start taking emergency contraceptives as soon as possible after unprotected intercourse. Talk with your health care provider about this.
How does emergency contraception work?
Emergency contraception prevents or delays the egg from leaving the ovary. When taken before fertilization, EC can also prevent the egg from joining with the sperm. It is also possible that the emergency contraception can impede implantation of the fertilized egg into the uterine lining. Emergency contraception is not an abortion, and it will not work if you are already pregnant.
What types of emergency contraception can I get?
Plan B:
Plan B™ (0.75 mg levonogesterol), does not contain any estrogen. It comes in a packet of two tablets. You should take 2 tablets, 12 hours apart, as soon as possible after unprotected intercourse. Side effects are rare, but some women may experience slight nausea. If you feel nauseous, you should take anti-nausea medicine an hour before taking the emergency contraception.
Copper IUD:
For those women who can use the IUD, the Paragard™ IUD can be used as emergency contraception within 5 days of unprotected intercourse. Side effects: See Intrauterine Device (IUD).
What do I do after I've taken emergency contraception?
After taking emergency contraception, you can expect your next menstrual period within two to four weeks. You should begin to take another form of birth control immediately.
Where can I get emergency birth control?
In Washington State, emergency contraception is available at many doctor's offices, clinics, and pharmacies. You can call the emergency contraception hotline (nationwide) at: 1-888-NOT-2-LATE for the location nearest you. For women under the age of 17, a prescription is required to purchase emergency contraception at pharmacies.
To find pharmacies in your area that stock and provide Plan B, consult this map of Washington state pharmacies:
http://www.prochoicewashington.org/issues/pharmmap.shtml
If you would like emergency contraception, please call our clinic to make an appointment Monday through Friday, 9:00am-5:00pm. If you are already a patient of ours, we will happily prescribe emergency contraception over the phone.
How much does emergency contraception cost?
Plan B can cost anywhere from $10 to $45 at pharmacies and clinics, depending on where you live. The average price of Plan B in Washington pharmacies is $45. At Aurora Medical Services, you can get emergency contraception for anywhere from $56 to $84.You can also pick up Plan B at DSHS CSO offices with a family planning nurse on site (during their in-office hours). There is no income verification and you do not need to be enrolled in DSHS.
Here is a link for finding your local CSO office: https://fortress.wa.gov/dshs/f2ws03esaapps/onlinecso/findservice.asp
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When is sex considered unprotected?