What is emergency contraception?

The emergency contraceptive pill is a method of reducing the risk for pregnancy after a contraceptive method failure or unprotected intercourse. The risk of a woman becoming pregnant if she has unprotected sex one time at any point in her cycle is as high as 26%. Any unprotected intercourse can result in pregnancy. The risk is highest mid-cycle if she is not on birth control, or around her period if she misses 1 or more active pills at the beginning or end of her pill pack.

Emergency contraception is not as effective as other, primary methods of contraception and should be reserved for use as an emergency method only.

About half of the 6 million pregnancies each year are unintended. About half of these unintended pregnancies are caused by some type of contraceptive failure, such as the failure of a method or a mistake on the part of the user. The other half occurs because no contraceptive method was used at all. Widespread use of ECP could prevent an estimated 1.7 million unintended pregnancies and 800,000 abortions each year.

The most commonly used ECP at UHS is called Plan B, which is available without a prescription to men and women 18 and older. Women age 17 and under require a prescription. It is a progestin-only pill and the progestin is called levonorgestrel. It is highly effective and has fewer side effects than the pills used in the past.

Plan B consists of 2 pills that are taken 12 hours apart or may be taken together as a single dose. Although it is most effective when taken within 72 hours after unprotected intercourse, ECP can be taken up to 120 hours after unprotected intercourse.

How does it work?

ECP works in different ways depending on where you are in your cycle. It may inhibit or delay ovulation, inhibit transport of the egg and the sperm in the fallopian tube, interfere with fertilization, or change the lining in the uterus.

ECP is NOT an abortion pill. If you are already pregnant, the ECP will not harm the fetus or cause an abortion.

When should ECP be used?

You may want ECP if a condom broke or slipped off, if you missed a birth control pill and did not use a backup method, if your diaphragm slipped out of place, if he did not pull out in time, or if you otherwise suspect contraceptive failure. If you take ECP within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse, your chance of becoming pregnant decreases by 70-85%.

The earlier you take ECP, the more effective it will be.

Are there any side effects?

There are side effects associated with ECP, but they are only temporary. The most common side effect is nausea. Nausea occurs about 23% of the time and vomiting about 6% of the time with Plan B. Other possible side effects include headaches, breast tenderness, and irregular menstrual bleeding. No serious long-term side effects have been reported among ECP users.

The timing of your next period may be altered. You should start bleeding any time within the next 3 weeks. If you don't, you will need to get a pregnancy test.

Other Information:

Repeated use of emergency contraception suggests that the woman needs to look seriously at her current method of contraception and consider more effective options that she will use more consistently and successfully.

UHS provides Hormonal Contraception classes for both male and female students who are interested in becoming more familiar with the types of contraception available.

Women who want further information and/or gynecologic care after attending the HCS class should call (512) 471-4955 to schedule an appointment at the UHS Women's Health Clinic.