Choosing a Birth Control Method.

Association of Reproduction Health Professionals

Abstinence/outercourse

broken condom Emergency contraception

Emergency contraceptives are methods of preventing pregnancy after unprotected sexual intercourse. They do not protect against sexually transmitted diseases. Emergency contraception can be used when a condom breaks, after a sexual assault, or any time unprotected sexual intercourse occurs. If you are sexually active or planning to be, do not use emergency contraceptives as your only protection against pregnancy.

Emergency contraception options

Emergency Contraceptive Pills

Emergency Contraceptive Pills

There are two types of emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs), sometime called the "morning after pill."

One type of ECP contains only the hormone called progestin. This type is specially packaged and labeled for use as the brand name Plan B^®. It is more effective than combination pills, and the risk of nausea and vomiting is also lower. Normally, if 100 women have unprotected intercourse once during the second or third week of their cycle, about eight of those women would become pregnant. But if those women take Plan B following unprotected intercourse, only one woman would become pregnant: an 89% reduction.

The currently recommended treatment schedule for Plan B is to take the two pills at once, preferably within the first 12-24 hours after unprotected intercourse. One can take the pills up to 5 days after unprotected sex, but the sooner they're taken, the more effective the medication is.

The other type of ECP uses a combination of hormones (estrogen and progestin) found in some kinds of regular birth control pills. A pre-packaged product called Preven^® was previously on the market and was labeled for emergency use. Although it has officially been taken off the market (because Plan B is more effective and causes less side effects), Preven may still be on pharmacy shelves in some areas. Special doses of several brands of birth control pills used for ongoing contraception can also be used for emergency conraception. About 50% of women who use this type experience nausea, and 20% vomit. If the same 100 women used combination pills, only two would become pregnant: a 75% reduction.

The currently recommended treatment schedule for combined pills is to take one dose within 72 hours after unprotected intercourse and a second dose 12 hours after the first dose. A recent large study found that ECPs should be taken as soon after unprotected intercourse as is practical. Most women can safely use emergency contraceptive pills, even if they cannot use birth control pills as their regular method of birth control.

IUDs

The copper-T intrauterine device (IUD) can be inserted up to five days after unprotected intercourse to prevent pregnancy. Insertion of a copper-T IUD is much more effective than using ECPs or mini-pills, reducing the risk of pregnancy by more than 99%. A copper-T IUD can be left in place to provide continuous effective contraception for up to 10 years. But IUDs are not appropriate for all women. They do not protect against sexually transmitted diseases. Women who may be at risk of sexually transmitted diseases because they or their partners have other sexual partners may be more likely to get a pelvic infection if they have an IUD. These infections can cause infertility if they are not treated. The progestin-releasing IUS cannot be used for Emergency contraception.