M
Mary Anne PA
What is Emergency Contraception?
Emergency contraception is used to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex or failed contraception.
You are at risk of pregnancy if:
You had intercourse and didn’t use any form of birth control or barrier method
Your condom broke, slipped or leaked
Your diaphragm or cap slipped/dislodged, was removed too early (less than 6 hours), or was found to be torn
You missed two or more birth control pills and/or had a delay in starting a new pack and had unprotected sex
You are using a natural family method and miscalculated your fertile period
Your partner did not “pull-out” in time
You were late for your birth control shot (Depo Provera™) and had unprotected sex
You were two or more days late starting your new vaginal ring cycle or contraceptive patch cycle and had unprotected sex
You were forced against your will to have sex and were not using reliable birth control
You were drunk or high and were not sure whether you had sex and/or if you used any form of contraception
Types of Emergency Contraception
There are two types of emergency contraception:
Emergency Contraceptive Pills (ECP) or more popularly known as the “morning after pill”, which can work up to 5 days after unprotected sex. The sooner you take ECP the more effective they will be at preventing pregnancy – so don’t delay.
You can have a Copper IUD (intrauterine device) inserted into your uterus by a doctor up to 7 days after unprotected sex.
Has it been more than 7 days since you had unprotected sex?
Emergency Contraceptive Pills (ECP)
Emergency Contraceptive Pills are also popularly called the “morning-after-pill”, however they may be taken up to 5 days (120 hours) after unprotected sex to prevent pregnancy – not just the next morning. The sooner you take ECP - the more effective they will work in preventing pregnancy. They contain the same hormones as birth control pills but with higher doses. ECP does not protect you from sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS.
There are two forms of ECP, Plan B™ and the Yuzpe method. Plan B™ is the only government approved form of emergency contraceptive pills sold in Canada. You no longer need a doctor’s prescription to obtain Plan B™ and you can get them from your local pharmacist. Plan B™ contains only the hormone progestin. It is more effective than other forms of ECP and has fewer side effects.
The other method of ECP, the Yuzpe method, involves high doses of combination birth control pills which contain the hormones estrogen and progestin. Some clinics in Canada will offer this method by giving you Ovral™ pills. Your local health centre or health care provider can give you more information about this method.
ECP is not the same as the abortion pill also known as RU-486. ECP can only prevent a pregnancy from happening up to 5 days after unprotected sex. If you are already pregnant ECP will not cause an abortion or miscarriage.
Effectiveness of ECP in preventing pregnancy
The sooner you take ECP after unprotected sex, the more effective the pills will be in preventing pregnancy. The effectiveness depends on when you take ECP after unprotected sex, where you are in your menstrual cycle and what type of ECP you take. For example, if you follow proper instructions of Plan B™, it will on be average 95% effective within 24 hours, 85% effective within 25 and 48 hours and 58% effective between 49 and 72 hours. Therefore, effectiveness decreases the longer wait – so don’t delay.
How to take ECP
If you are taking Plan B™ there are two white pills in the package. As indicated on the package, take one pill as soon as possible and the other pill exactly 12 hours later.
If you are taking the combined birth control pill method (Yuzpe method), ask your health care provider. Some clinics for example give out Ovral™ (a brand of birth control pills) as a form of ECP. You would take two pills of Ovral™ as one dose and two more pills 12 hours later.
Possible side effects
Almost all women can safely use ECP, in fact emergency contraception has been used worldwide for decades. There are no long-term or serious side effects from using ECP. Some women experience some nausea and vomiting when taking ECP. You may want to eat and take an anti-nausea tablet like Gravol™ an hour before you take a dose of ECP. If you vomit after one or more hours after taking ECP, it will have already passed through your stomach and will still be effective. If you vomit within the first hour of taking ECP you’ll have to take another dose (if you are using Plan B™ you’ll have to get another package).
You may also have the following side effects: fatigue, headache, dizziness and breast tenderness and bleeding.
There are fewer side effects with Plan B™ than the combined birth control pill method (for example taking doses of Ovral™).
If you are already pregnant – ECP will NOT work. ECP will not cause an abortion or miscarriage. According to scientific information currently available, taking ECP while pregnant will not result in an abnormal pregnancy.
How ECP works
ECP work much the same way as birth control pills (“the pill”) work except they contain a larger dose of hormones. Plan B™ contains only one hormone, progestin, while the Yuzpe method contains progestin and estrogen.
It is critical to take ECP as soon as possible and definitely within 5 days of unprotected sex.
ECP can have three possible effects that are dependent on where you are in your menstrual cycle and when you take ECP within the 5 days:
If your ovaries have not released your monthly egg (ovulation), ECP will delay ovulation. If no egg is released there is no chance of the egg and sperm meeting and therefore no chance of pregnancy.
ECP may prevent fertilization (when the egg and sperm come together)
ECP may also prevent a fertilized egg from becoming implanted in your uterus by altering the lining of the uterus (endometrium), thereby preventing a pregnancy from happening.
Sex after ECP
ECP does not continue to protect you from pregnancy with any other acts of unprotected sex that you have after taking the pills. Use the form of regular birth control of your choice to prevent pregnancy. Using a condom is the only way to prevent sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.
Menstruation after taking ECP
Your next period may come a little early or a little later than usual, and may be heavier or lighter than usual. If you have not started your period within three to four weeks you should get a pregnancy test and talk to your health care provider.
For more information on pregnancy options click here
Can ECP be used instead of a regular form of birth control?
ECP is not as effective as other contraceptive methods and should therefore be used only as a back up method of birth control. While frequent use of ECP is not recommended, repeated use over time poses no known health risks. Taking ECP won’t have any effect on your future ability to get pregnant.
Repeated use of ECP suggests that you need to find a reliable and ongoing method of contraception that you can use correctly and consistently.
Emergency contraception is used to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex or failed contraception.
You are at risk of pregnancy if:
You had intercourse and didn’t use any form of birth control or barrier method
Your condom broke, slipped or leaked
Your diaphragm or cap slipped/dislodged, was removed too early (less than 6 hours), or was found to be torn
You missed two or more birth control pills and/or had a delay in starting a new pack and had unprotected sex
You are using a natural family method and miscalculated your fertile period
Your partner did not “pull-out” in time
You were late for your birth control shot (Depo Provera™) and had unprotected sex
You were two or more days late starting your new vaginal ring cycle or contraceptive patch cycle and had unprotected sex
You were forced against your will to have sex and were not using reliable birth control
You were drunk or high and were not sure whether you had sex and/or if you used any form of contraception
Types of Emergency Contraception
There are two types of emergency contraception:
Emergency Contraceptive Pills (ECP) or more popularly known as the “morning after pill”, which can work up to 5 days after unprotected sex. The sooner you take ECP the more effective they will be at preventing pregnancy – so don’t delay.
You can have a Copper IUD (intrauterine device) inserted into your uterus by a doctor up to 7 days after unprotected sex.
Has it been more than 7 days since you had unprotected sex?
Emergency Contraceptive Pills (ECP)
Emergency Contraceptive Pills are also popularly called the “morning-after-pill”, however they may be taken up to 5 days (120 hours) after unprotected sex to prevent pregnancy – not just the next morning. The sooner you take ECP - the more effective they will work in preventing pregnancy. They contain the same hormones as birth control pills but with higher doses. ECP does not protect you from sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS.
There are two forms of ECP, Plan B™ and the Yuzpe method. Plan B™ is the only government approved form of emergency contraceptive pills sold in Canada. You no longer need a doctor’s prescription to obtain Plan B™ and you can get them from your local pharmacist. Plan B™ contains only the hormone progestin. It is more effective than other forms of ECP and has fewer side effects.
The other method of ECP, the Yuzpe method, involves high doses of combination birth control pills which contain the hormones estrogen and progestin. Some clinics in Canada will offer this method by giving you Ovral™ pills. Your local health centre or health care provider can give you more information about this method.
ECP is not the same as the abortion pill also known as RU-486. ECP can only prevent a pregnancy from happening up to 5 days after unprotected sex. If you are already pregnant ECP will not cause an abortion or miscarriage.
Effectiveness of ECP in preventing pregnancy
The sooner you take ECP after unprotected sex, the more effective the pills will be in preventing pregnancy. The effectiveness depends on when you take ECP after unprotected sex, where you are in your menstrual cycle and what type of ECP you take. For example, if you follow proper instructions of Plan B™, it will on be average 95% effective within 24 hours, 85% effective within 25 and 48 hours and 58% effective between 49 and 72 hours. Therefore, effectiveness decreases the longer wait – so don’t delay.
How to take ECP
If you are taking Plan B™ there are two white pills in the package. As indicated on the package, take one pill as soon as possible and the other pill exactly 12 hours later.
If you are taking the combined birth control pill method (Yuzpe method), ask your health care provider. Some clinics for example give out Ovral™ (a brand of birth control pills) as a form of ECP. You would take two pills of Ovral™ as one dose and two more pills 12 hours later.
Possible side effects
Almost all women can safely use ECP, in fact emergency contraception has been used worldwide for decades. There are no long-term or serious side effects from using ECP. Some women experience some nausea and vomiting when taking ECP. You may want to eat and take an anti-nausea tablet like Gravol™ an hour before you take a dose of ECP. If you vomit after one or more hours after taking ECP, it will have already passed through your stomach and will still be effective. If you vomit within the first hour of taking ECP you’ll have to take another dose (if you are using Plan B™ you’ll have to get another package).
You may also have the following side effects: fatigue, headache, dizziness and breast tenderness and bleeding.
There are fewer side effects with Plan B™ than the combined birth control pill method (for example taking doses of Ovral™).
If you are already pregnant – ECP will NOT work. ECP will not cause an abortion or miscarriage. According to scientific information currently available, taking ECP while pregnant will not result in an abnormal pregnancy.
How ECP works
ECP work much the same way as birth control pills (“the pill”) work except they contain a larger dose of hormones. Plan B™ contains only one hormone, progestin, while the Yuzpe method contains progestin and estrogen.
It is critical to take ECP as soon as possible and definitely within 5 days of unprotected sex.
ECP can have three possible effects that are dependent on where you are in your menstrual cycle and when you take ECP within the 5 days:
If your ovaries have not released your monthly egg (ovulation), ECP will delay ovulation. If no egg is released there is no chance of the egg and sperm meeting and therefore no chance of pregnancy.
ECP may prevent fertilization (when the egg and sperm come together)
ECP may also prevent a fertilized egg from becoming implanted in your uterus by altering the lining of the uterus (endometrium), thereby preventing a pregnancy from happening.
Sex after ECP
ECP does not continue to protect you from pregnancy with any other acts of unprotected sex that you have after taking the pills. Use the form of regular birth control of your choice to prevent pregnancy. Using a condom is the only way to prevent sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.
Menstruation after taking ECP
Your next period may come a little early or a little later than usual, and may be heavier or lighter than usual. If you have not started your period within three to four weeks you should get a pregnancy test and talk to your health care provider.
For more information on pregnancy options click here
Can ECP be used instead of a regular form of birth control?
ECP is not as effective as other contraceptive methods and should therefore be used only as a back up method of birth control. While frequent use of ECP is not recommended, repeated use over time poses no known health risks. Taking ECP won’t have any effect on your future ability to get pregnant.
Repeated use of ECP suggests that you need to find a reliable and ongoing method of contraception that you can use correctly and consistently.
