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Health Topics: Contraception: Emergency Contraception
For information about receiving prescription contraceptives at Hudson Health Center, click here.
Emergency contraception (ECP) can prevent pregnancy after unprotected intercourse. It is two doses of hormonal pills. It prevents pregnancy by stopping ovulation, fertilization and/or implantation. Some ECPs are combination pills with estrogen and progestin which are synthetic hormones like the ones a woman's body makes. Others are progestin only. The ECP that is dispensed through Ohio University's Student Health Services is progestin only.
ECPs are taken in two doses, twelve hours apart. They work the best if the first dose is taken within 72 hours of unprotected vaginal intercourse. Plan B (progestin only) and Preven (combined estrogen and progestin) are designed specifically for emergency contraception. Certain other birth control pills can be used for ECP. Several brands have been shown to be effective. The number of pills in a dose depends on the brand.
First Dose:
Swallow the pills in the first dose within 72 hours (maximum three days after having unprotected vaginal intercourse). If using the combined ECPs the woman may want to eat saltines or drink a glass of milk 30 minutes before taking each does to avoid vomiting. Dramamine or Bonamine may also be taken to use nausea.
Second Dose:
Swallow the second dose 12 hours after taking the first dose. If the women threw up after the first dose, anti-nausea medication should be used 30 minutes before taking the second dose. The women may also take the second dose as a vaginal suppository by inserting the pills with her finger as high into the vagina as possible. (The medication will be absorbed through the vaginal tissue).
If vomiting occurs after the second dose, do not take any extra pills. They probably won't further reduce the risk of pregnancy.
After taking ECPs a woman:
- Should schedule a follow-up visit with her health care provider if she does not have a period in three weeks or if she is having symptoms of pregnancy.
- Should use another method of contraception if she is going to have vaginal intercourse before she gets her next period.
- Use a method of contraception for as long as she wants to prevent pregnancy.
How well does emergency contraception work?
Combined emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs) reduce the risk of pregnancy by 75 percent. For example, eight out of 100 women will become pregnant after having unprotected intercourse during the second or third week of their cycles. But only 2 out of 100 will become pregnant after taking emergency contraceptive pills. Progestin-only emergency contraception pills (ECPs) reduce the risk of pregnancy by 89%. Only one woman out of 100 will become pregnant after taking progestin-only ECPs.
ECPs work best taken as soon as possible after unprotected intercourse. The closer a woman is to ovulation at the time of unprotected intercourse, the greater her chances of pregnancy.
A woman may want Emergency Contraceptives if:
- The condom broke or slipped off during vaginal intercourse or when the penis was being withdrawn from the vagina.
- She forgot to take her birth control pills
- She miscalculated her safe days
- She wasn't using any type of birth control
- She was forced to have unprotected vaginal intercourse.
Disadvantages:
- The side effects associated with ECPs taper off one or two days after the second dose has been taken.
- Half the women who take the combined pills feel sick to their stomachs, but only for about 24 hours
- One out of three women throw up with the combined ECPs
- The risk of nausea and vomiting is lower with progestin only ECPs
- Breast tenderness, irregular bleeding, fluid retention, dizziness and headaches may also occur
- Frequent use of ECPs may cause periods to become irregular and unpredictable.
To obtain ECPs (Plan B) through Student Health Services: - This product can be purchased over the counter at the Student Health Service Pharmacy.
- Bring your student id
- Go directly to the Pharmacy
- Explain that you need Emergency Contraception (ECPs)
- Make sure that ECPs are obtained within 72 hours of unprotected vaginal intercourse.
If you would like to see a provider - Fill out a white card in at the registration desk in the first floor lobby
- Write as the reason for visit private/ personal
- When you are talking with the triage nurse explain that you need Emergency Contraception (ECPs)
- Make sure that ECPs are obtained within 72 hours of unprotected vaginal intercourse.
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