How Emergency Contraception works
Like birth control pills, EC pills contain hormones to prevent pregnancy. These hormones act like the chemicals a woman’s body naturally makes. EC pills have higher amounts of the same hormones found in regular birth control pills.
EC works by keeping an egg from leaving the ovary. Just like daily birth control pills, EC may also keep the sperm from meeting the egg. BUT, it can’t stop a fertilized egg (meaning the sperm has entered the egg) from attaching to the lining of the uterus. That’s why it’s so important to take EC as soon as possible after unprotected sex. If a fertilized egg has already attached to the lining of the uterus, you are already pregnant and taking EC won’t change that.
Is EC the abortion pill?
EC pills are NOT the same things as the abortion pill and can’t cause an abortion. Emergency contraception contains hormones that prevent pregnancy from happening in the first place. Like I said, it works by stopping the egg and sperm from meeting. But it can’t stop a fertilized egg from growing once it has attached and begun to grow in the uterus.
The abortion pill, also known as mifepristone or RU-486, is a very different medication that is used to stop a pregnancy from continuing once a fetus has already begun to grow in the uterus.
Don’t worry – if you take Plan B®, Plan B One-Step® and Next Choice™ by accident when you are already pregnant, they will not work, and cannot hurt you or your pregnancy.
I used to be really confused about the difference between EC and the abortion pill. One of my friends told me it was the same thing, but she was wrong. Aunt Lucia helped me understand the difference. If you’re still confused, you can talk to your doctor or call a family planning clinic or a counselor on the Sexual Health Helpline at (877) MA-SEX-ED or (877) 627-3933. They can answer any questions you have.
Something else Aunt Lucia told me is that EC doesn’t protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs) like HIV or chlamydia. Condoms are the ONLY birth control choice that also protect against STIs like HIV.
How well does it work?
The Plan B One-Step® method of emergency contraception is very effective. In fact, the sooner Plan B One-Step® is used, the more effective it is.
|
Hours Passed |
Effectiveness of EC |
|
Pill Taken Within 24 hours (1 day) |
95% effective in preventing pregnancy |
|
Pill Taken Within 72 hours (3 days) |
89% effective in preventing pregnancy |
|
Pill Taken Within 120 hours (5 days) |
75% effective in preventing pregnancy |
Since taking Plan B One-Step® works better the sooner you take it , it’s a good idea to have the pills on you just in case. Your doctor or a family planning counselor can write a prescription in advance or provide a pack of EC pills to keep at home in case they are needed in an emergency. I keep a prescription in my purse just in case I need it.
If you don’t get your period within 3 weeks after taking EC, you may be pregnant. Contact your doctor, or a family planning clinic or take a pregnancy test.
Got more questions? Talk to your doctor, call a family planning clinic or call the Sexual Health Helpline at (877) MA-SEX-ED or (877) 627-3933. They can help you find out the fastest and cheapest way to get EC when it’s needed – or search for a family planning clinic near you.
