What is emergency contraception?

Emergency contraception is contraception that can prevent pregnancyafterunprotected sex. If you believe your birth control method may have failed or you didn’t use one and want to prevent pregnancy, emergency contraception can help you.

There are two forms of emergency contraception: pills containing hormones that prevent pregnancy, and the ParaGard intrauterine device (IUD).

Morning after/Plan B pill

Types Hormones 可访问性 Effectiveness 成本
计划B一步
Take Action
AfterPill		 levonorgestrel 非处方药在制药公司cies; no prescription or ID required 75-89% $25-$55
ella ulipristal acetate 处方需要 85% $50-$60

Sometimes called “the morning after pill,” there are two different types of pills you can use for emergency contraception (EC).

The first contains levonorgestrel. Brand names include Plan B One-Step, Take Action, and AfterPill. You can buy these over the counter at most pharmacies and drugstores without a prescription and without ID. Anyone of any age can purchase them. They can lower your chance of getting pregnant by75 to 89 percentwhen used correctly. Their cost ranges from $25-$55.

第二种荷尔蒙药仅由一个品牌制成，被称为Ella。它含有醋酸乌利皮酯。您确实需要处方才能获得Ella。如果您无法立即看到一个已建立的提供商，则可以访问“分钟诊所”并从执业医生那里获得处方。致电您的药房，以确保他们有ELLA库存。您也可以快速在线获得Ella这里。This pill is considered the most effective type of morning after pill, with85％的功效率。它的价格通常在50到60美元之间。

ParaGard IUD

Type 可访问性 Effectiveness 成本
插入设备 must be inserted by a medical professional at your doctor’s office or clinic up to 99.9% up to $900 (many insurance plans currently cover most or all of the cost)

插入ParaGard铜IUD可以作为两种emergency contraception and continued birth control for up to 12 years. Your gynecologist, a family planning clinic, or someone at Planned Parenthood can insert the IUD. It can cost up to $900, though many insurance plans currently cover most or all of the cost. When used correctly as emergency contraception, it can reduce the chance of pregnancy by up to99.9 percent。

All of these methods prevent pregnancy. They do not terminate a pregnancy.

You can use emergency contraceptives to prevent pregnancy after you’ve had unprotected sex, or if you think your birth control may have failed. Examples of these situations include:

  • 避孕套破裂，或者您错过了一份或多种避孕药
  • 您认为您的节​​育可能因您服用的其他药物而失败
  • having unexpected unprotected sex
  • sexual assault

Emergency contraceptives need to be used soon after sex to prevent pregnancy. The specific time frames in which they should be used to prevent pregnancy are:

Emergency contraception When you should take it
morning after/Plan B pill 在不受保护的性行为的3天内
ella pill within 5 days of unprotected sex
ParaGard IUD must be inserted within 5 days of unprotected sex

You should never take more than one round of emergency contraceptives at a time.

Emergency contraceptives are generally regarded as very safe for the general population, but they can have side effects.

Common minor side effects of both types of morning after pill include:

  • 时期之间出血或发现
  • nausea
  • vomiting or diarrhea
  • 温柔的乳房
  • feel lightheaded
  • 头痛
  • fatigue

If you vomit within two hours of taking the morning after pill, you’ll need to take another.

Many women feel cramping or pain during insertion of the IUD, and some pain the following day. Common minor side effects of the ParaGard IUD, which can last between three and six months, include:

  • cramping and backaches several days after the IUD is put in
  • spotting between periods
  • heavier periods and intensified menstrual cramps

There are no known serious side effects or risks associated with taking either form of the morning after pill. Most symptoms subside within a day or two.

Many women use an IUD with either no or harmless side effects. In rare cases, however, there are risks and complications. These include:

  • getting a bacterial infection during or soon after insertion, which requires treatment with antibiotics
  • the IUD perforating the lining of the uterus, which requires surgical removal
  • the IUD can slip out of the uterus, which will not protect against pregnancy and requires re-insertion

Women with IUDs who do get pregnant are at much higher risk for ectopic pregnancies. If you think you might be pregnant after having an IUD inserted, make an appointment to see your doctor right away. Ectopic pregnancies can become medical emergencies.

You should call your doctor right away if you have an IUD and:

  • the length of your IUD string changes
  • you have trouble breathing
  • 你会得到无法解释的寒意或发烧
  • pain or bleeding during sex after the first few days of insertion
  • you think you could be pregnant
  • you feel the bottom of the IUD coming through the cervix
  • you experience severe abdominal cramping or significantly heavy bleeding

Continue to use birth control and protection

Once you’ve used emergency contraception, continue to use your regular birth control methods when having sex, to prevent pregnancy. The emergency contraception should not be used as regular birth control.

Take a pregnancy test

服用紧急避孕药或错过月经后，大约一个月后，参加妊娠测试。如果您的经期迟到并且妊娠试验为阴性，请再等几周再走另一个。医生可能会使用尿液和血液检查来确定您是否怀孕，因为他们有时会早些时候发现怀孕。

Get screened for STIs

If you were potentially exposed to sexually transmitted infections (STIs), call your gynecologist or a local clinic like Planned Parenthood to schedule testing. A full STI panel typically includes testing vaginal discharge for gonorrhea, chlamydia, and trichomoniasis. It also includes blood work that tests for HIV, syphilis, and genital herpes. In some cases, your doctor will recommend testing you right away, and again in six months for HIV.

While these forms of emergency contraception have high success rates, there is the rare chance that they may fail. If your pregnancy test comes back positive, you can then consult your doctor about what’s right for you. If you decide to maintain the pregnancy, your doctor can set you up with prenatal care. If it is an unwanted pregnancy, talk to your doctor and research your options. If you decide to terminate the pregnancy, there are different types of abortions that you can choose from, depending on which state you live in. Contact your doctor to see what options are available to you. If your emergency contraception fails, you can utilize these resources for more information: