Birth Control Options for Women - Emergency Contraception

Emergency Contraception

Emergency contraception is available to prevent pregnancy:

• After sexual assault
• After consensual intercourse in which contraception is not used
• When contraception is used but fails (for instance, when a condom breaks or a diaphragm dislodges)

Basics of Emergency Contraception

Emergency contraception, also called the “morning after pill,” uses the hormones found in birth control pills to prevent either fertilization or the implantation of a fertilized egg in the uterine lining. It is not the same thing as the "abortion pill" [See Mifepristone, below]. Emergency contraception is usually given as hormone pills within 72 hours of unprotected sex. Some of these pills (such as Plan B) contain only progestin. Other pills (such as Preven) contain a combination of estrogen and progestin. Emergency contraception is also sometimes prescribed as an intrauterine device (IUD), which is inserted within 5 days of unprotected sex.

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In 2006, after a long political battle, the FDA approved the Plan B brand as the first over-the-counter emergency contraception. It is available without a prescription at pharmacies and health clinics for women over age 18. Women will need to present proof of age to purchase it. Girls younger than age 18 will still need to get a prescription from their doctors.

Specific Methods

Emergency Oral Contraception. There are two forms of emergency oral contraception:

• The Yuzpe method uses two doses of combined oral contraceptives containing estrogen and the progestin levonorgestrel. In the U.S., Preven is the standard brand used for the Yuzpe method. In general, this approach is effective in preventing pregnancies 75% of the time (although some studies report lower success rates).
• The other standard approach uses two doses of the progestin levonorgestrel, which includes Plan B. Studies indicate that this method causes less stomach distress and is more effective than the Yuzpe method. In one large study, levonorgestrel prevented pregnancy in 85% of women requiring emergency contraception.