Emergency Birth Control

Emergency Birth Control

Emergency Birth Control Pills

Emergency birth control pills can prevent pregnancy after you have sex without using birth control, or if the method of birth control you chose did not work properly.

If you have sex without using any protection, emergency birth control can prevent you from becoming pregnant. You should consider emergency birth control if:

  • You had sex without using birth control.
  • You had a problem with your birth control (the condom broke or slipped off).
  • You missed 2 or more birth control pills, you were late for your contraceptive shot, or you forgot to insert your ring or apply your patch.
  • You were forced to have sex.
  • You have a partner who will not use or let you use birth control.

Sometimes emergency birth control is called emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs) or the morning-after pill. This name is a little confusing since you can take emergency birth control up to 5 days after you've had unprotected sex, not just the morning after. One type of emergency birth control is known by the brand name Plan B.

It's normal to have questions about emergency birth control, especially about how it works, how often you can use it, and what to expect after you take the pills.

Kaiser Permanente members of any age can call for a prescription. ECPs are free of charge. If you are over 18 years of age, call your local Kaiser Permanente pharmacy to see if you can buy ECPs without a prescription.

Risk of pregnancy

The sooner you take ECPs, the more effective they are in preventing pregnancy.

If you take ECPs within 3 days (72 hours) after having unprotected sex, you reduce your chance of getting pregnant by 75 to 89 percent. 

ECPs can be effective if you take them within 5 days, but they will be more effective at preventing pregnancy if you take them sooner.

Advantages

  • ECPs help prevent unintended pregnancies and abortions.
  • ECPs are safe. Even if you cannot take birth control pills, you can take ECPs.
  • You can keep ECPs at home in case you need them.
  • ECPs will not hurt a fetus if you are already pregnant.

Disadvantages

  • ECPs do not protect against STDs.
  • You may feel sick to your stomach, have a headache, or tender breasts after taking an ECP.
  • You can have menstrual spotting or bleeding.
  • ECPs are an emergency backup method. They are not considered to be an effective method of regular birth control. There are other methods that are more effective.

How to use

Your package of ECPs will contain 2 pills. We recommend that you take both pills as soon as possible after unprotected sex. 

Sometimes the package will direct you to take 1 now and the other in 12 hours, but studies show that the effectiveness is the same if you take them both at once.

Disclaimer

If you have an emergency medical condition, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital. An emergency medical condition is any of the following: (1) a medical condition that manifests itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity (including severe pain) such that you could reasonably expect the absence of immediate medical attention to result in serious jeopardy to your health or body functions or organs; (2) active labor when there isn't enough time for safe transfer to a Plan hospital (or designated hospital) before delivery, or if transfer poses a threat to your (or your unborn child's) health and safety, or (3) a mental disorder that manifests itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity such that either you are an immediate danger to yourself or others, or you are not immediately able to provide for, or use, food, shelter, or clothing, due to the mental disorder.

This information is not intended to diagnose health problems or to take the place of specific medical advice or care you receive from your physician or other health care professional. If you have persistent health problems, or if you have additional questions, please consult with your doctor. If you have questions or need more information about your medication, please speak to your pharmacist. Kaiser Permanente does not endorse the medications or products mentioned. Any trade names listed are for easy identification only.