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What is Emergency Birth Control (EBC)? Emergency birth control (EBC) is a safe and effective method of preventing pregnancy following unprotected sexual intercourse. EBC initiated within 72 hours of unprotected sexual intercourse reduces the chance of pregnancy by 89%, decreasing the random chance of pregnancy from 8% to 1% after a single act of unprotected sexual intercourse. It works with the hormones in your body by interfering with fertilization and implantation of the egg. Yes. EBC significantly reduces the chance you will get pregnant, but it does not eliminate the possibility. By taking EBC you may be at increased risk of ectopic (tubal) pregnancy, which causes severe abdominal pain and can be life-threatening. You should call Feminist Women's Health Center immediately if you have severe abdominal pain and you should return to Feminist Women's Health Center for a urine pregnancy test (it’s free!) in 3 weeks if you have not had a menstrual period since taking EBC. EBC is commonly known as the “morning-after pill,” but that term is misleading; EBC may be taken sooner than the morning after -- immediately after unprotected intercourse -- or later -- for up to 5 days (120 hours) after unprotected intercourse. Use of EBC within 3 days (72 hours) of unprotected intercourse is the best way to ensure that you do not get pregnant. More recent studies indicate that the pills continue to be moderately effective if started between 72 and 120 hours of unprotected intercourse. The FDA has approved one dedicated emergency contraception product, Plan B® which is available at pharmacies and clinics in a 2-pill package. The pills contain hormones that work in your body to stop the egg from being fertilized and/or implanted. The FDA has stated that several brands of Norgestrel or Levonorgestrel containing combined oral contraceptives (OC) are safe and effective for use as EBC as well (see the chart below). There have been no reports of long or short-term health risks associated with EBC use. EBC will not end a pregnancy that has already started and no significant effects on fetal development have been reported or linked with women who take EBC. Therefore, pregnancy is a contraindication to EBC use not because of the risk of fetal harm, but because it will not work in the event of a pre-existing pregnancy. The most common side effect is nausea. Plan B ® (because it is Levonorgestrel-only) is not likely to cause nausea; nausea and vomiting is much more common with the estrogen and progestin combined pills. To reduce the risk of vomiting the pills, you should have something to eat before taking the pills and you may want to take an over the counter anti-nausea medication (such as Dramamine) before you take the EBC pills. Repeat dose if either pill is vomited within 1 hour of swallowing, Side effects vary widely from woman to woman, are similar to pre-menstrual type symptoms and depend largely on where you are in your menstrual cycle when the EBC is taken. Some women will experience irregular bleeding or spotting, breast tenderness, cramping, dizziness, headache, backache and a menstrual period that is either a few days early or a few days late. Please call if you have any questions about whether a side effect is normal. There are other more serious side effects associated with the estrogen and progestin combined method of EBC (Yuzpe method). These side effects are the same ones associated with birth control pills (blood clots, stroke, allergic reaction, etc). All women with: undiagnosed vaginal bleeding, migraines, high blood pressure, blood clots, cardiac disease or liver disease should be screened and carefully evaluated by a licensed health care provider prior to being given any form of medication.
Where do I get more information? Need more information? Call us at 404.728.7900.
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Just give us a call or drop by.
Download our Emergency Birth Control Consumer Guide (Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.0 or higher required) |
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