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Contents
W hat
is Emergency Contraception?
-
Emergency Contraception or EC is a safe and effective
method to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sexual
intercourse.
Emergency Contraception is regular birth control pills
taken in special doses. There are now two pre-packed
Emergency Contraception products called Plan B ® and
Preven ®.
Emergency Contraception is taken within 3 days or 72 hours
after sex.
Over
95% of the women who take Emergency Contraception do not
become pregnant.
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How does Emergency Contraception work?
-
Emergency Contraception helps prevent pregnancy by:
-
Temporarily stopping eggs from being released,
-
Stopping fertilization, or
-
Stopping a fertilized egg from attaching to the womb.
What
Emergency Contraception will NOT do:isrupt
an established pregnancy
Cause an abortion (Emergency Contraception is not the
same as the abortion pills that should be taken after
you missed your period)
Prevent from Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) or
HIV/AIDS
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When should I take EC?
- You
may wish to consider using Emergency Contraception if you
had sex within the last 3 days and:
- You
didn't use birth control
- The
condom broke
- You
were late for your birth control shot
- You
missed two or more birth control pills in a row or
started your pack late
-
Your diaphragm slipped or
- You
were forced to have sex.
Emergency Contraception is not effective as a routine
method of contraception.
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What are the side effects from
taking EC?
-
Almost all women can safely use EC. There are no long term
or serious side effects from using EC.
- The
main side effects are nausea and vomiting. An
over-the-counter anti-nausea medicine like, Meclizine
can help reduce nausea or vomiting if taken 1 hour
before EC.
-
Other side effects may include fatigue, headache,
dizziness, and breast tenderness.
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How much does Emergency Contraception
cost?
Our
price of Emergency Contraception is $45 for Plan B.
This includes confidential consultation, all information
packets and handouts as well as the pre-packed package of
two EC pills. Many family planning clinics provide
Emergency Contraception free to low-income women.
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Where can I get EC?
You
can obtain EC directly from Rite Care Pharmacy without the
need for a prescription ahead of time. In California,
women can now go straight to a participating pharmacy to
get emergency contraception without having to go to a
clinic or doctor first. Most family planning clinics in
California also provide EC. If there isn’t a nearby
pharmacy that participates in the Emergency Contraception
Pharmacy program, and you do not have a regular doctor or
clinic, we would be happy to make arrangements for you to
pickup your emergency contraception from a pharmacy near
you. Call us toll free at (866) 877-PILL for more
information.
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What is the Emergency Contraception
Pharmacy Program?
The
Emergency Contraception Pharmacy Program was established
in California so women can get Emergency Contraception
straight from a pharmacy, without first visiting their
clinic or doctor. In this program pharmacists are able to
provide women with Emergency Contraception under a
standardized protocol from a doctor. To participate in
this type of program they are required by law to have
special training, and to give all clients a fact sheet
called
Key Facts About Emergency Contraception. Rite Care
Pharmacy is a authorized EC provider.
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What should I expect if I go to a
pharmacy to get EC?
The
pharmacists will ask several questions in a confidential
setting to make sure Emergency Contraception is right for
you. (The pharmacist needs to know when you last had
unprotected intercourse, and the start date of your last
period.) She may ask you to complete a brief form,
available in both Spanish and English. You will also be
given written information about Emergency Contraception
that you can take with you. When visiting a pharmacist for
Emergency Contraception you have the right to expect up to
date and confidential information!
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How effective is EC?
Over
95% of women who take Emergency Contraception do not
become pregnant. Plan B (progestin-only) may be slightly
more effective than other types of EC.
(Top^)
Is the “morning-after” pill the
same as “emergency contraception (EC)”?
Yes,
the “morning-after” pill and emergency contraception (EC)
are the same thing. The term “emergency contraception” is
preferred because this method of preventing pregnancy can
be used several days after unprotected sex, not just the
“morning after.”
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What is the difference between Emergency
Contraception and RU-486?
RU-486
or Mifepristone (Mifeprex) also known as the French
abortion pill interrupts an already existing pregnancy (49
days or less counting from the beginning of the last
menstrual period) and should not be confused with
emergency contraception. In contrast, Emergency
Contraception will NOT disrupt an established
pregnancy.
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How long after unprotected sex can I
take EC?
The
current treatment schedule is one dose within 72 hours
after unprotected sex, and a second dose 12 hours after
the first dose. Emergency Contraception should be taken as
soon after unprotected sex as is practical. New
information suggests that Emergency Contraception can be
used up to 5 days, or 120 hours, after unprotected sex.
However, Emergency Contraception is much less effective if
used after 72 hours.
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What if I am late in taking the
second dose of EC?
It is
recommended that you take the second dose 12 hours after
the first dose. Taking the second dose a little early or
late (two hours early or late, for example) will probably
not make a difference in how effective the pills are, but
we really do not know for sure.
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When should my next period come after I
take EC?
Your
next period should come more or less on time. It is more
common for your period to be delayed than to come early,
probably because ovulation is delayed in many women. After
taking Emergency Contraception some women have irregular
bleeding that is not really their period. The duration of
the irregular bleeding is not predictable. You should have
another, normal period within 3 weeks after taking EC. If
not, you should visit a clinic and get a pregnancy test
just to make sure you're not pregnant.
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How many times can I use EC?
Emergency Contraception is not recommended for routine use
as a method of birth control for sexually active women.
Correct use of other birth control methods such as the
pill, condoms, IUD, or the shot is a more effective and
often less expensive way to prevent pregnancy.
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Can I use Emergency
Contraception if I am breastfeeding?
Yes,
Emergency Contraception may be used, as there is no
evidence of danger to the infant or mother. A single
treatment of Emergency Contraception is unlikely to have
an important effect on milk quantity or quality. Some
hormones may pass into the breast milk, but they are
unlikely to affect the infant adversely.
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Can I get Emergency Contraception if I
am under 18?
Yes,
under California law, minors have the right to access
confidential family planning services (including EC)
without parental consent.
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Does Emergency Contraception cause an
abortion?
No!
Emergency contraception prevents abortion, by preventing
pregnancy. The American College of Obstetricians and
Gynecologists and the National Institutes of Health define
pregnancy as starting with implantation of the egg in the
uterus. Emergency Contraception will not work after
implantation occurs. Emergency Contraception will not
interrupt an established pregnancy.
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What is Plan B?
Plan
B® (levonorgestrel) is a safe and effective form of
emergency contraception. Unlike older emergency
contraceptive pills that contain both estrogen and
progestin, Plan B® (levonorgestrel) contains only
progestin. As a result, Plan B causes fewer side effects,
like nausea. For more information see the
FAQ on Plan B.
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If I am already pregnant, will taking
Emergency Contraception harm my baby?
No! If
emergency contraception is mistakenly taken during
pregnancy, it will not harm your developing fetus. Using
Emergency Contraception will not affect a woman’s ability
to become pregnant in the future.
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Will Emergency Contraception effect
my period?
Emergency Contraception can cause spotting or change the
flow, length, and timing of your next period. In most
cases this effect is minor. If your period is delayed by
more than 7 days, consider getting a pregnancy test.
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