Emergency Contraception: A Guide for Teens

Emergency Contraception:

A Guide for Teens

What is emergency contraception?

Emergency contraception (EC) is a backup method of birth control for preventing pregnancy after unprotected sex. It is now available over-the-counter in most pharmacies to young women age 18 and over.

Emergency contraception is sometimes called the "morning after pill," but it can actually be used within 5 days (120 hours) of unprotected intercourse. It works better the sooner you take it after unprotected sex.

When should a women use emergency contraception?

Emergency contraception (EC) should be used if:

You had unprotected sex, which means your partner did not use a condom and you are not using a hormonal method of birth control.
You forget to take your birth control pills sometimes (and you've been having sex).
Your partner's condom broke or slipped off while you were having sex.
You were forced to have unprotected intercourse (rape).

How does emergency contraception work?

Emergency contraception uses a high dose of birth control pills (either progestin alone or a combination of estrogen and progestin). The birth control pills work by giving a strong, short burst that breaks the hormonal cycle that your body would need to get pregnant.

It is important to remember that EC doesn’t continue to protect against pregnancy during the rest of the menstrual cycle.

Does emergency contraception (EC) cause an abortion?

Emergency contraception (EC) does not work if a woman is already pregnant. EC will NOT cause an abortion.

How is emergency contraception taken?

There are two types of emergency contraception that use hormone pills:

The first type, called Plan B®, is the only pill made specifically for emergency contraception available in the United States. It contains only one kind of hormone, a progestin, and it comes in a total of 2 pills. A woman can either take one pill, and then take the second pill twelve hours later, or she can take both pills at the same time. The medication is taken within 120 hours (5 days) of unprotected sex, but the sooner it is taken the more effective it is.
The second type of emergency contraception uses regular birth control pills, which contain two hormones, estrogen and progestin. There are 2 doses. The first dose may be 2, 4, or 5 pills depending on the brand of birth control pills used, and is taken within 120 hours (5 days) of unprotected sex. The second dose is taken 12 hours after the first dose. A young women’s healthcare provider would need to prescribe how many pills should be taken for this kind of emergency contraception.

How effective is emergency contraception?

It is important to remember that emergency contraception does not always work. It does not guarantee that pregnancy will be prevented. Emergency contraception lowers your risk of pregnancy by 75-88%. The risk of getting pregnant depends on when in your menstrual cycle you had sex and what kind of birth control you use. You are more likely to get pregnant during ovulation, when the ovary releases an egg.

The best way to prevent pregnancy is to use a regular birth control method such as condoms, or birth control pills, or to not have sexual intercourse.

Is emergency contraception (EC) safe?

Yes. Millions of women have used emergency contraception (EC) without any problems. EC should not be used if a woman knows she is pregnant because in this situation, it will not work.

Does emergency contraception (EC) cause birth defects?

Emergency contraception does not cause birth defects or affect the health of future children that a woman may have.

Does emergency contraception have any side effects?

There are almost no side effects with Plan B®. Some women may get mild side effects if regular birth control pills are used which can include: nausea, vomiting, and breast soreness.

Side effects from emergency contraception (when using regular birth control pills) most often go away after 1-2 days. There are over-the-counter medicines you can get (Dramamine II or Bonine) for nausea. Remember, a health care provider must prescribe this method.

Where can I get emergency contraception?

In the United States women 18 and older can get EC at pharmacies without a prescription. For teens under the age of 18, EC may require a prescription depending upon the state; some states have a special program that allows trained pharmacists to give out EC. You may need to check many different pharmacies because EC is not available in all pharmacies. Use the EC website at http://ec.princeton.edu/index.html to find a doctor or pharmacy or call the toll free phone number 1-888-NOT-2-LATE if you have any questions about emergency contraception. Be ready to answer the following questions:

When was the first day of your last menstrual period?
When was the exact date and time of unprotected sex?
What types of birth control have you have used in the past?

Can I use emergency contraception as my regular form of birth control?

Emergency contraception is not meant to be a regular method of birth control. It is meant to be a one-time emergency treatment. Emergency contraception can be used when a condom breaks, when a diaphragm or cervical cap gets moved, if a woman is raped, or any time when there is unprotected sex. You should not use emergency contraception as your only protection against pregnancy, because this method doesn’t work as well as other types of birth control. Also, emergency contraception does not protect against STDs.

When can I expect my next menstrual period after I have taken emergency contraception?

Your period should start within 7 to 9 days after taking EC. Your next period may start a little early or a few days later than when you usually get it.

What if I have problems after I have taken emergency contraception (EC)?

If you have any problems after you take emergency contraception, you can contact your health care provider. You should definitely call your health care provider if:

You do not get your period by 2 weeks after taking EC.
You have very bad abdominal (belly) pain
You are spotting (small amount of blood on your underwear in between your menstrual periods)
Your next menstrual period is very light
You are dizzy

Do I need to do anything else to prevent pregnancy after I have taken emergency contraception?

Yes. You should talk to your health care provider about using a regular type of birth control method. Until you have your next menstrual period, it is best not to have sexual intercourse. If you decide to have intercourse, make sure to use a barrier method, such as a condom, every time you have sex. Your health care provider may suggest that you start birth control pills right away after emergency contraception. Find out more about birth control methods so you can start thinking about what method will be best for you.

We hope that you have learned a lot about emergency contraception (EC) and that we have answered your questions. Below are the key points to remember about EC so you can be a resource to your family, friends, and others.

Key Points to Remember about Emergency Contraception (EC):

Emergency contraception (EC) is a safe treatment to prevent pregnancy in adolescent girls and adult women who have had unprotected sex.
EC will NOT cause an abortion.
Emergency contraception does not guarantee that pregnancy is prevented. The best way to prevent pregnancy is to use a regular birth control method, such as condoms or birth control pills, or not have sexual intercourse.
Plan B® (emergency contraception) is available to women 18 and older at pharmacies in the United States without a prescription.
If you are under 18, you might want to talk to your health care provider about having a prescription for Plan B® in case of an emergency.

Be sure to talk with your health care provider about how you can prevent pregnancy and stay healthy!

Written by the Center for Young Women's Health Staff

Updated: 1/8/2008

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