Emergency contraception
What it is
Emergency contraception (EC) reduces the chance of pregnancy after sex without birth control. Common reasons to use it: a condom broke or slipped off, several birth control pills were missed, no method was used, or someone was raped.1
It must be used soon after sex, and it doesn't work if a pregnancy has already started.1
Myth: The morning-after pill is an abortion pill.
It's easy to mix the two up, and many people have heard them described as the same thing. prevents a pregnancy from starting; an abortion ends one that already exists. The pills work by delaying or stopping ovulation, and they haven't been shown to harm a pregnancy that has already started.1
The options
From most to least effective:1,2
- Copper IUD. The most effective option. A clinician places it within 5 days of sex. It can then stay in as birth control for up to 10 years. It works mainly by making sperm less able to fertilize an egg.1
- Ulipristal pill. Prescription only. Works up to 5 days after sex with no drop in effectiveness, and is the most effective pill.1
- Progestin pill (levonorgestrel). Sold without a prescription at UK pharmacies, and in the US to anyone of any age. Works best within 3 days, and less well up to 5 days.1,2
"Morning-after pill" is a misleading name: the pills can be used for several days, and the sooner the better.
Good to know
- Weight matters. Being overweight may make the pills less effective. The works at any weight.1
- Buy it ahead. The progestin pill can be bought in advance, so it's there when needed.1
- Side effects are usually mild: the next period may come early or late, and there may be spotting, headache, nausea or tiredness.1
- It can be used more than once, but it's not as effective as regular birth control.1
- It doesn't protect against STIs.1
Afterward
Take a pregnancy test if your period is more than a week late.1 Starting regular birth control afterward depends on which pill you took, so ask a pharmacist or clinician. If you might have been exposed to an STI, get tested.1
Recap
- Emergency contraception is for after sex without birth control, or when a condom breaks or pills are missed.
- The copper IUD is the most effective. It can be placed within 5 days and then used as birth control for up to 10 years.
- The progestin pill works best within 3 days. Ulipristal works up to 5 days.
- The pills delay ovulation. They don't cause an abortion and don't harm an existing pregnancy.
- The pills may work less well for people with higher body weight; the copper IUD works at any weight.
Words to know 4
| copper IUD | A hormone-free IUD. Placed within 5 days of sex, it is the most effective emergency contraception. |
|---|---|
| emergency contraception (EC) | Birth control used after sex to lower the chance of pregnancy. |
| levonorgestrel | The progestin in the over-the-counter emergency pill, sometimes called the morning-after pill. |
| ulipristal | A prescription emergency pill that works up to 5 days after sex. |
Educational information, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about your health.