| The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) conclude that if EC were available to all women in the U.S., 1.2M unintended pregnancies could be avoided and the annual number of abortions would be reduced by 800,000. |
|  | Your Contraceptive Choices |
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| | | Continuous abstinence is 100 percent effective in preventing pregnancy. It also prevents sexually transmitted infection.
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| | | | Includes information on the male and female condom along with spermicides and dental dams. (pdf file) |
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| | | | Includes information on the Pill, the Ring, and the Patch. (pdf file) |
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| | | | Includes information on IUDs, diaphragm, FemCap and Lea's Shield. (pdf file) |
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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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| | | | An interactive program from the Association of Reproductive Health Professionals. |
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| | | | This new, easy-to-understand table from FDA compares the effectiveness of birth control methods. |
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| | | | Consumer Reports February 2005 |
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