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Emergency Contraception Pill should be used within 72 hours after Unprotected Sexual Intercourse

Emergency Contraception Pill

Emergency contraception pills contain higher doses of the same hormones found in oral contraceptive pills.  Emergency contraception is used to prevent pregnancy after having unprotected sexual intercourse.  The emergency contraceptive pills work by preventing or delaying ovulation, preventing fertilization, or preventing implantation of a fertilized egg.

Emergency contraceptive pills should be taken in 2 doses, 12 hours apart. The first dose should be taken within 72 hours after unprotected intercourse. The FDA approved emergency contraception product available is Plan B. The price for consumers for the dedicated product for emergency contraception is about $30 per package.

The Plan B is a progestin-only emergency contraceptive.  Plan B reduces the chance of pregnancy by 89%, when used as directed.

Side effects of emergency contraception pills include nausea, vomiting, fatigue and breast tenderness. It is advised that you take an anti-nausea medication one hour before the first emergency contraceptive is used.  You should have a period within three weeks of taking emergency contraception pills and the absence of menstruation may indicate pregnancy.

Currently emergency contraception pills are only available by prescription.  Contact your healthcare provider soon after unprotected intercourse for treatment and discussions about on-going methods of contraception.

For More Information - Web Links

Plan B is an Emergency contraceptive:

The Emergency Contraception Website