Emergency Contraception

How It Works

Levonorgestrel, which is known as the “morning after pill” or Plan B, is the most common form of emergency birth control. 1

Morning After Pill

The Morning After Pill is sold as either Plan B One-Step® or Next Choice One Dose® 2. It is taken within 72 hours after having had sex without using any type of birth control or if the birth control method failed.

If a woman is already pregnant, emergency contraception will not work
Plan B and Next Choice are not the abortion pill

What it Does

The Morning After Pill works in one of three ways:

Prevents an egg from being released (ovulation)
Prevents sperm from fertilizing an egg
Changes the lining of the uterus to make it harder for a fertilized egg to attach to it

Note: The Morning After Pill does not protect against sexually transmitted infections

References

1. Office of Women’s Health. (2012, July 16). Emergency contraception (emergency birth control) fact sheet | womenshealth.gov. Retrieved from http://www.womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/emergency-contraception.html#a]

2.Plan B One-Step. (2015). About Plan B One-StepÂ®. Retrieved from http://planbonestep.com/about.aspx

3. Next Choice. (2014). The Morning After Pill – Emergency Contraception – Next Choice®. Retrieved from http://www.mynextchoiceonedose.com/

YES

Cost

87%

Effectiveness

YES

Side Effects

Possible Side Effects of Emergency Contraception:

*Nausea or vomiting

*Dizziness

*Fatigue

*Headache

*Breast tenderness

*Bleeding between periods

*Heavy Period bleeding

*Cramping

References

1. Mayo Clinic. (2012, July 16). Emergency Contraception: Possible Side Effects. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/morning-after-pill/about/pac-20394730