Where to get emergency contraception

Some types of emergency contraceptive pills are available over the counter at drugstores and pharmacies for anyone of any age without a prescription. One type of emergency contraception which works well up to 5 days after unprotected sex is only available by prescription. An IUD used for emergency contraception needs to be placed by a doctor or nurse practitioner.

This can be done at a doctor's office or a health clinic, like Planned Parenthood. Many health insurance plans cover the cost of emergency contraception and family planning clinics such as Planned Parenthood charge much less.

Reviewed by: Larissa Hirsch, MD. Larger text size Large text size Regular text size. What Is Emergency Contraception? How Does Emergency Contraception Work? ECPs can cause some minor side effects for a few days, including: nausea vomiting breast tenderness headaches These usually are minor, and most improve within 1 to 2 days.

Emergency contraceptive pills can be very effective if they are used in time. The pills are most effective when taken within 24 hours of having sex. They are still effective when taken up to five days after having sex. Ulipristal acetate pills reduce your risk of pregnancy more than levonorgestrel pills. The pills cannot prevent pregnancy if you have unprotected sex after taking them. They can prevent an egg from being fertilized or implanted. An IUD is very effective for emergency contraception.

This is true if your doctor inserts it within 5 days of sex. This IUD can be left in your body for up to 10 years to prevent pregnancy.

Some women use IUDs as their regular form of birth control. Common side effects of a ParaGard IUD are heavier, longer periods and spotting or cramping between periods. Symptoms usually improve in the first 3 to 6 months.

Emergency contraception cannot prevent or end pregnancy if a fertilized egg already is implanted. Because of this, emergency contraception is not a means of abortion. Most medicine brands require a single dose of 1 pill. Some brands have 2 doses 1 pill followed by a second pill 12 hours later. Sometimes, you can take both pills together. Follow the instructions for each specific brand. The U. Food and Drug Administration FDA says that some brands of regular birth control pills can be used in increased doses for emergency contraception.

However, this method is less effective. It can cause more side effects. Talk to your doctor to see if your birth control pills are safe for emergency use. Some women feel nauseous after they take emergency contraceptive pills. This feeling should go away in about 2 days. Your doctor can give you medicine to reduce nausea. Other possible side effects include:.

Keep in mind, emergency contraception does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases STDs. You should not use any emergency contraception if you know you are pregnant or are trying to get pregnant. Under the Affordable Care Act the health care law , most insurance plans cover FDA-approved prescriptions for emergency contraception and birth control at no cost to you.

You may need to get a prescription from your doctor if you want your insurance plan to pay for it. Your doctor can give you a prescription to fill so you can have emergency contraception at home to use when you need it. Or, you can buy some types of emergency contraception pills from a store at any time. Most other types of FDA-approved birth control, when used correctly, are much better at preventing pregnancy than emergency contraception pills and usually cost less.

Also, while emergency contraception pills are safe for emergency use, they have not been tested as regular birth control and are not approved by the FDA for this purpose. Women who are sexually active will need to use birth control to prevent pregnancy. What type of regular birth control you can use right away depends on the type of emergency contraception you take.

Read more about different types of birth control in our birth control methods fact sheet. After you take an emergency contraception pill, your next period may come sooner or later than normal.

Most women will get their period within a week of the expected date. Your period also may be heavier, lighter, spotty, and more or less painful than is normal for you. If you do not get your period more than one week after expected or if you think you might be pregnant after taking emergency contraception pills, take a pregnancy test to find out for sure. Emergency contraception does not protect you from STIs.

To lower your risk of getting an STI, always use condoms when you have vaginal, oral, or anal sex. See a doctor right away if you think you may have been exposed to an STI. If you were sexually assaulted, go to the nearest hospital emergency room as soon as possible. For more information about emergency contraception, call the OWH Helpline at or contact the following organizations:.

Department of Health and Human Services. ET closed on federal holidays. Breadcrumb Home A-Z health topics Emergency contraception. Emergency contraception. Emergency contraception Emergency contraception can help keep you from getting pregnant if you had sex without using birth control or if your birth control method did not work. What is emergency contraception? What types of emergency contraception pills are available? How do emergency contraception pills prevent pregnancy?

When should I think about using emergency contraception? Consider using emergency contraception if you had sex and: You didn't use birth control You think your birth control didn't work see the list in the next section Consider asking your doctor for a prescription for emergency contraception pills, or having some type of emergency contraception pill already at home or with you in case you need it.

What does it mean for birth control to "fail" or not work correctly? Depending on the method of birth control you use, not working correctly means different things. How do I get emergency contraception? It depends on the type of emergency contraception you need. If you do not see it on the shelf, ask the pharmacist for help.