| 7% of U.S. women at risk of unintended pregnancy who do not practice contraception account for almost half of the country’s unintended pregnancies |
|  | Emergency Contraception (EC) |
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|  Emergency contraceptive (EC) pills are stocked by all major pharmacy chains, but be sure to call ahead to make sure that EC is available in your pharmacy. There are currently 3 different brands of EC (sometimes called the "morning after pill") that may be available in U.S. pharmacies. One of these pills has a different age restriction, so it can be a bit confusing. If you are 17 years old and need emergency contraception, be sure to call the pharmacy first because you may or may not be able to buy EC without a prescription.
•Plan B One-Step and Next Choice are approved for sale without prescription to women and men 17 and older. Women aged 16 and younger need a prescription.
•Plan B (the original version, which contains 2 pills instead of one) is still carried in some pharmacies but will be phased out soon. To buy this pill without prescription, you must be aged 18 or older.
•ella (a new ECP containing ulipristal acetate) was approved for sale in the U.S. in August 2010, but it is not yet available on the market. It will be sold by prescription only.
To get EC without a prescription, you will be asked to show proof of your age. Any government-issued ID (not only US government) is acceptable proof of age and it does not need to be a photo ID. You will have to ask the pharmacist for EC; it will not be on the shelves but instead will be kept behind the pharmacy counter. |
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| Emergency contraception has been available for more than 25 years and could prevent 1.7 million unintended pregnancies and 800,000 abortions each year in the U.S. It is a safe and effective method of contraception, and women who have used it report high levels of satisfaction.
You may want EC if...
His condom broke.
You forgot to take your birth control pill.
He didn't pull out in time.
You weren't using any birth control.
He forced you to have unprotected sex.
Emergency Contraception (EC)...
...is designed to prevent pregnancy after unprotected vaginal intercourse.
...is provided in two ways.
Emergency contraception pills — can reduce the risk of pregnancy if started within 120 hours after unprotected vaginal intercourse. The sooner they're taken, the better. They work best when they are taken within 72 hours — during this time they can reduce the risk of pregnancy from 75 to 89%. Nausea, vomiting, and cramping are common side effects when combined hormones — estrogen and progestin — are used.
Emergency IUD insertion within five days of unprotected intercourse is 99.9% effective.
Don't use emergency hormonal contraception if you:
- are pregnant
- are allergic to the medication
Consult your clinician about what kind of emergency contraception pills may be best for you. |
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| | RaisingHerVoice.org provides a safe space for survivors of sexual assault to share their experiences with emergency contraception (EC or the "morning-after pill"). The website aims to raise awareness about the important role of EC during a time of crisis. Please note that some of the material on this website may bring up unexpected feelings for survivors of sexual assault. |
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| | |  | | | | | Files on this site may be formatted in PDF files. |
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