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Fact Sheet On Emergency Contraception
What is Emergency Contraception (EC)? Emergency contraception (EC) is an effective back-up birth control method that can prevent pregnancy after unprotected intercourse or contraceptive failure (a broken condom). The most common form of EC is emergency contraceptive pills, which contain high dosages of the same hormones found in daily birth control pills. A woman takes EC within 72 hours of unprotected sex, followed by a second dose 12 hours later. Is Emergency Contraception the Same Thing as the “Morning-After Pill”? Because EC can help reduce the risk of pregnancy after sex, some people like to call it the “morning-after pill.” Actually, a woman can take EC up to 72 hours after unprotected intercourse or birth control failure. And the process of using EC involves taking two doses of the pills, twelve hours apart. Emergency contraception should not be confused with Mifeprex (RU-486). EC helps to prevent pregnancy, while Mifeprex terminates an early pregnancy. How Do Emergency Contraceptive Pills Work? EC prevents pregnancy the same way that the daily pill does: by delaying or inhibiting ovulation, inhibiting fertilization, or preventing implantation of a fertilized egg in the uterus. All of these events occur before the beginning of pregnancy, which science defines as the implantation of a fertilized egg in the lining of a woman’s uterus; implantation typically begins five to seven days after fertilization. EC does not interrupt a pregnancy. It will not work if a woman is already pregnant. How Effective is Emergency Contraception? Emergency contraceptive pills containing only progestin reduce the risk of pregnancy after unprotected intercourse by 85 percent; combined estrogen-progestin pills reduce the risk by 75 percent. Recent data also shows that the sooner a woman takes EC, the more effective it is. However, an 85 percent reduction in the risk of pregnancy does not mean that 15 percent of women using EC will become pregnant. Rather, if 100 women take EC after having unprotected sex in the second or third week of their menstrual cycles, only one will become pregnant. Without EC, an average of eight of the 100 women would become pregnant. Are There Any Side Effects Associated With Emergency Contraceptive Pills? Some women using EC may experience temporary side effects, which include nausea, vomiting, and breast tenderness. These symptoms are more common with combined estrogen-progestin pills than with the regimen using progestin-only pills. There are no known serious side effects of emergency contraceptive pills. If a woman who is already pregnant takes ECP’s, there are no known risks to the developing fetus. Why Would a Woman Need Emergency Contraceptive Pills? There are about 3 million unintended pregnancies each year in the United States. Half of these happen to women who are using a regular method of contraception. Despite the highly effective birth control options women have to choose from, none is 100% perfect. And sometimes, mistakes happen – a condom breaks, a woman forgets to take her pill. Or she has sex when she didn’t plan to – or want to. Researchers estimate that roughly half of the unintended pregnancies in the U.S. could be prevented by widespread awareness and use of EC. One of the reasons a woman might need emergency contraception is in the case of rape. Each year, thousands of American women are the victims of this violent crime. By offering a woman the option of taking emergency contraception, health care providers can help to eliminate at least one trauma associated with rape – the fear of an unwanted pregnancy. Where Can Women Get Emergency Contraception? Emergency contraceptive pills are available in the U.S. only by prescription. A woman can get EC – or a prescription for the pills – from any physician and many other health care providers. Most clinics require a woman to come in for an office visit before prescribing emergency contraception. However, some women’s health specialists are exploring ways to provide EC to women who cannot get to their provider within the 72-hour window they have for using this back-up birth control method. In a some states, women are able to obtain EC directly from a pharmacist without having to visit a health care provider first. Where Can Women Get More Information? There is an automated, 24-hour-a-day, toll-free hotline (1-888-NOT-2-LATE) or the Spanish mnemonic (1-866-en-tres-dias) and an Emergency Contraception Website http://www.not-2-late.com. Both also provide guidance about where to get EC in a given area. Or contact the Center for Women's Health for assistance. Center for Women’s
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Last modified: 05/04/08 09:15:45 AM |
