Emergency Contraception

Before you take emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs), be sure you understand both the benefits and the possible problems of using ECPs. If you have any questions as you read, we will be happy to talk about them with you.

Emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs) are hormonal pills that you take to try to prevent pregnancy after you have unprotected vaginal intercourse (birth control method fails, no birth control method used).

The pills either keep the ovary from releasing an egg, thicken cervical mucus, or change the lining of the uterus in such a way that a fertilized egg may not attach and develop into a pregnancy.

The pills should be started preferably within 72 hours (3 days) of unprotected vaginal intercourse. The sooner they are taken, the more effective in preventing pregnancy they will be.

Read the information included with your prescription and ask questions about anything you do not understand.

These emergency pills prevent pregnancy about 76-99% of the time, depending on when in the cycle, unprotected intercourse takes place.

However, this method may fail because:

• a fertilized egg already has implanted in the uterus
• too much time passed since unprotected vaginal intercourse
• failure of the drug itself

A sensitive urine pregnancy test should be done before taking ECPs if you think there is any chance that you could already be pregnant (last period was late, light, or short, or if you feel pregnant).

It is not recommended to use these pills if you are (or think you are) already pregnant. However, if you are pregnant, or if the pills fail and pregnancy occurs, there have not been any reports of serious side effects to the woman or to the fetus from taking the pills.

Rare, but serious complications with blood clots can occur with the regular use of birth control pills. It is not known whether blood clotting problems (or other complications) can also occur when birth control pills are used for emergency contraception, but medical experts do not think so because the exposure to the pill is so short.

Some reactions to these pills (for about 24 hours) may include:

• nausea and/or vomiting
• breast tenderness
• irregular bleeding
• headache or dizziness

Your next period could be early or late, or could be lighter or heavier. If you use ECPs more than once in a monthly cycle, the chance of having problems with your next period could be even greater.

If you see a clinician for any reason before you get your next period, tell him/her that you have taken ECPs.

It is important to think of a more reliable form of ongoing birth control if you are at risk of unintended pregnancy. After using ECP, some women continue on birth control pills or use an IUD. Ask about the options with your clinician.

Having unprotected sex may have put you at risk for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and a serious infection could cause sterility. If you think you could be at risk for STDs, talk to your clinician about getting tested.

Come back to the clinic in two or three weeks after taking these pills for a checkup if you have not had a normal period, or if you feel like you could be pregnant, or if you have any early signs of pregnancy (such as feeling sick to your stomach, feeling very tired, breast swelling, or tenderness).

To prevent feeling sick to your stomach or throwing up:

• do not take the pills on an empty stomach
• you can get something for nausea at the drugstore without a prescription (like Dramamine or Bonamine) to take about an hour before taking ECPs if you want to
• time taking the pills so that you take a second dose before going to bed