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PAT WALKER HEALTH CENTER

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Emergency Contraception

(Emergency Contraceptive Pills (ECPs), also known as "Plan B")

For most women, ECP's are a simple, safe option that can greatly reduce the chance of pregnancy after unprotected intercourse.

Plan B (or ECPs) is now available without a prescription for those who are 18 years of age or older. To obtain Plan B without a prescription, a government issued ID with a birth date on it must be presented to the pharmacy. Those under 18 years of age must have a prescription to obtain Plan B.

You may want to use emergency contraception if:

• You were forced to have sex

• A condom broke or slipped off

• You didn't use any birth control

• You have not properly used hormonal contraception

Talk to your clinician before using ECP's if you have ever had:

• a Stroke

• Breast Cancer

• Blood clots in your legs or lungs

• Any reason to think that ECPs might pose a health risk for you

• Any serious medical disorder such as diabetes, liver disease, or high blood pressure

What is Emergency Contraception?

When you have sex without using birth control, your risk of becoming pregnant depends on where you are in your menstrual cycle. During your most fertile days - midway between two menstrual periods - the risk could be as high as 30%. By using emergency contraceptive pills (ECP's), you decrease your chance of becoming pregnant by 75%. For example a 35% risk would be reduced to fewer than 8%.

The pills may work be keeping the ovary from releasing an egg, by thickening cervical mucus or by changing the lining of the uterus in such a way that the fertilized egg may not attach and develop a pregnancy. 

If you are already pregnant and take ECP's, it will not adversely affect the pregnancy. 

Timing is everything!

ECP's must be taken as soon as possible. The sooner the ECP's are taken, the better they work to prevent pregnancy. It is best to start the pills within 72 hours (3 days) of unprotected vaginal intercourse.

Studies have shown that even if ECP's are taken as late as 5 days after unprotected vaginal intercourse, they may prevent pregnancy. It appears to be less effective the later it is used. The effectiveness beyond 120 hours is not proven.

ECP's treatment consists of two options:

OPTION 1: 

• You should swallow all of the given ECP's as soon as possible after unprotected intercourse or at latest by 5 days (120 hours)

• The sooner you take them, the better they will work to prevent pregnancy.

OPTION 2:

• You should swallow the first pill(s) as soon as possible after intercourse or, at the latest, by 5 days (120 hours).

• The swallow the second pill(s) 12 hours after you take the first pill(s).

Pregnancy Testing

If you are not on hormonal contraception and do not have a menstrual period within 3 weeks, then have a pregnancy test done.

If you use hormonal contraception and have used ECP's, perform a pregnancy test 3 weeks after taking the ECPs.

Call the women's clinic for more information using the contact information to the right. 

For more information about Emergency Contraceptive Pills, visit http://ec.princeton.edu/providers/index.html