| The majority (61%) of U.S. women who have abortions are already mothers, more than half of whom have two or more children. |
| Advancing women's health by creating an environment in which the public and elected officials confidently support women's health policy. |
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|  | Emergency Contraception (EC) |
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|  In August 2006, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Plan B, the dedicated emergency contraception (EC) product, for over-the-counter (OTC) sales to consumers 18 and older. The OTC product was made available starting November 2006. Plan B will be kept behind the pharmacy county and not on store shelves. Consumers will need to show proof of age to get Plan B. |
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| Emergency contraception has been available for more than 25 years and could prevent 1.7 million unintended pregnancies and 800,000 abortions each year in the U.S. It is a safe and effective method of contraception, and women who have used it report high levels of satisfaction.
You may want EC if...
His condom broke.
You forgot to take your birth control pill.
He didn't pull out in time.
You weren't using any birth control.
He forced you to have unprotected sex.
Emergency Contraception (EC)...
...is designed to prevent pregnancy after unprotected vaginal intercourse.
...is provided in two ways.
Emergency contraception pills — can reduce the risk of pregnancy if started within 120 hours after unprotected vaginal intercourse. The sooner they're taken, the better. They work best when they are taken within 72 hours — during this time they can reduce the risk of pregnancy from 75 to 89%. Nausea, vomiting, and cramping are common side effects when combined hormones — estrogen and progestin — are used.
Emergency IUD insertion within five days of unprotected intercourse is 99.9% effective.
Don't use emergency hormonal contraception if you:
- are pregnant
- are allergic to the medication
Consult your clinician about what kind of emergency contraception pills may be best for you. |
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| | RaisingHerVoice.org provides a safe space for survivors of sexual assault to share their experiences with emergency contraception (EC or the "morning-after pill"). The website aims to raise awareness about the important role of EC during a time of crisis. Please note that some of the material on this website may bring up unexpected feelings for survivors of sexual assault. |
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| | |  | | | | | Files on this site may be formatted in PDF files. |
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