Emergency Contraception Pill

Emergency Contraceptive (EC) pills are safe to use after breast cancer, regardless of your hormone receptor (HR) status. Short-term use of EC pills does not raise the risk of breast cancer or recurrence of your breast cancer.

Emergency contraceptive (EC) pills are taken after sex (penis-in-the-vagina) to prevent pregnancy. These are also called “morning after” pills or a backup to regular birth control. EC pills are not abortion pills.

If you are worried that you might get pregnant after sex for any reason, you have nothing to lose by taking EC pills. Your chance of getting pregnant is lower if you take EC pills than if you do nothing.

There are two types of EC pills in the United States.

Over the Counter (OTC) EC pills: OTC EC pills can be bought without a prescription at a pharmacy or online. Common brands include Plan B One-Step, Next Choice One Dose, Next Choice, and My Way. If taken correctly within 5 days after sex, OTC EC pills lower the risk of pregnancy by 70%. They work best if taken within 24 hours of sex. For people who weigh 154 lb (70 kg) or more, OTC EC pills may not be as effective.

Prescription EC pill: This is a single pill called Ella. You need a prescription to get Ella. Ella works better than OTC EC pills. If taken within 5 days after sex, Ella lowers the risk of pregnancy by 85%. Ella is not affected by how much time has passed since sex- it works just as well on day 1 as on day 5. For people who weigh 194 lb (88 kg).

The Copper IUD can be used for emergency contraception, and it works a lot better than EC pills. To learn more, click on the Compare Method button and choose Copper IUD.

How can I lower my chance of getting pregnant even more?

After taking EC pills, avoid sex (penis-in-the-vagina) until you have started a regular birth control method.

EC pills work mainly by stopping the egg from being released (ovulation).

A single dose of EC pills is meant to prevent pregnancy for a single act of sex. EC pills will not stay in your system long enough to work for later acts of sex.

It is safe to use EC pills as many times as you need. But repeat EC pill use is not the best way to prevent pregnancy over time (and is not cheap).

You swallow EC pills as soon as possible within 5 days after sex. Your next period may be on time or late. Take a home pregnancy test in 3 weeks to make sure the EC pills worked. Avoid sex (penis-in-the-vagina) until you start a regular birth control method.

If you took Ella:

1) If you want to start or re-start the pill, the mini pill, the skin patch, the vaginal ring, or the shot, you should wait until at least five days after taking Ella. This is because these hormonal methods might make Ella less effective (not work as well to prevent pregnancy after sex).

2) If you are breastfeeding, you should “pump and dump” breast milk until 24 hours after taking Ella. Then you can go back to breastfeeding as normal.

EC pills can be used any time you want to prevent pregnancy after sex. This includes times when you forget to use your regular birth control or used it incorrectly (missed pills) , the birth control method did not work (condom broke), or you were forced to have sex.

EC pills are very safe. Even people with serious health conditions, like breast cancer or stroke, can take EC pills.

OTC EC pills and Ella can cause irregular bleeding. This is not dangerous. Your periods should go back to normal within 1-2 months.

EC pills may cause mild nausea and irregular bleeding.

EC pills do not work all the time.

Studies have not linked EC pills with serious side effects. In fact, pregnancy poses a greater health risk than EC pills.

No. Only penile or vaginal condoms will protect against HIV and STIs.

OTC EC pills can be bought at the drug store without a prescription. There is no age or gender requirement.

For Ella: Ask your health care provider for a prescription.

EC pills might cost nothing if covered by insurance. You may pay up to $100 or more for Ella. OTC EC pills have generic brands that are cheaper.

EC pills, especially Ella, are not always in stock at drug stores. It’s a good idea to get EC pills ahead of time so that you don’t waste time trying to find and buy them.

To buy EC pills and Ella online:

Bedsider: Find Birth Control (https://www.bedsider.org/where_to_get_it)

LemonAid (https://www.lemonaidhealth.com/cp-options)

Nurx (https://www.nurx.com/birthcontrol/)

Prjktruby (https://prjktruby.com/)

PandiaHealth (https://www.pandiahealth.com/)

-For more info, click here: Planned Parenthood: Emergency Contraception (https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/morning-after-pill-emergency-contraception)