Emergency Contraception (Pills)

What is ? Recently the FDA approved a new EC pill can be prevented after that is only one pill, taken in one dose. intercourse by taking emergency When taken within 72 hours (3 days) of contraceptive pills (EC). EC is commonly unprotected intercourse, this one step EC is known as the “morning after” pill. It works highly effective. Seven out of eight women by giving the body a short, high burst of who would have gotten pregnant will not synthetic , which disrupt get pregnant after taking it. patterns needed for pregnancy. EC disturbs the ovaries and the development of the If you vomit within a half hour of taking EC, uterine lining, making pregnancy less likely. contact your doctor because can EC is 75-89% effective. EC does not decrease the effectiveness of EC. Some protect against sexually transmitted recommend taking an anti-vomiting infections (STIs), including HIV/AIDS. EC 30 minutes before taking the does not interfere with an already first dose. If using pills for established pregnancy; therefore, it does EC, take them with food to help prevent not cause an . .

Brands of Pills After Taking EC Plan B is one brand of EC which contains After taking EC, your next menstrual period two pills. Plan B-One Step is should begin within 2 or 3 weeks. After two the newly approved brand of EC that has weeks, you can take a . If only one progesterone pill. Birth control your period does not come within 3 weeks pills that have both and or if you are pregnant, visit your clinic. If progesterone can also be used for EC. taking birth control pills after EC, start a Choose only one type of pill to take for EC. new pack of pills on the first day of your The dosage information for common brands menstrual period or on the Sunday after the of birth control pills in listed in the chart first day of your period. Take one pill every below. Some birth control packages have day. several different colors. It is important to take the exact color as specified on this Side Effects chart. Brands not listed have not been Common side effects for women who use tested for their effectiveness. birth control pills for EC are nausea, vomiting, headaches, breast tenderness, Use of EC dizziness, fluid retention and irregular The FDA has approved several types of pills bleeding. These side effects usually for EC. Older types are to be taken in two disappear after 1-2 days. These side effects separate doses. The first dose of EC is are rare when Plan B or Plan B-One Step taken within 120 hours (5 days) of are used. Women may experience changes unprotected intercourse (most effective if in their period after taking EC. In some taken within the first 24 hours). The cases, the next period may be heavier or second dose is taken 12 hours later. EC lighter, earlier or later. It is important to may be taken after 120 hours, but its have a pregnancy test if your next period effectiveness is much lower. The earlier it does not come within 3 weeks because a is taken, the more effective it is. pregnancy may have occurred.

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easily available options. You can buy them Your Health over the counter and you don’t have to wait There are no medical contraindications for for the start of your next period. Your taking EC pills, except pregnancy. If a health care provider can help you decide woman is already pregnant, EC pills are not what birth control method is most effective effective, but will not harm the pregnancy. and best fits your lifestyle. EC pills do not protect against HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). FURTHER RESOURCES

Availability Emergency Contraception Website: Plan B is available over the counter (OTC) http://ec.princeton.edu. to women 18 years and older while Plan B- One Step is available OTC to women 17 Back Up Your Birth Control Website: years and older. Both are available by www.backupyourbirthcontrol.org. prescription to women under the OTC age requirement. Birth control pills are not sold Plan B ® Website: www.go2planb.com. over the counter and require a prescription from your health care provider or clinic. It Michigan is a good idea to call ahead to the To find a Title X Clinic pharmacy to see if they have Plan B or Plan in Michigan, go to B-One Step available. www.michigan.gov/familyplanning.

Advantages of EC To find a Clinic in • Can be used after intercourse. Michigan, go to • Can use regular birth control pills www.miplannedparenthood.org/about.htm. • Can get pills ahead of time • Easy to use. • Does not affect future fertility To find an EC health care provider in the U.S., call the EC Hotline at 1-800-584- Disadvantages of EC 9911 or visit their website at • Does not protect against STIs, http://ec.princeton.edu/get-ec-now.html. including HIV/AIDS The hotline is available 24 hours a day in • Must be taken within 120 hours Spanish and English. • May cause nausea • Must be readily available To find a Planned Parenthood Clinic in the U.S., go to Future Fertility www.plannedparenthood.org/index.htm. EC does not prevent future and is less effective than other methods of birth To find a Title X Family Planning Clinic control. If you want to prevent future in the U.S., go to pregnancies, and are www.hhs.gov/opa/familyplanning.

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Birth Control Pills as Emergency Contraception

Second (2nd) First (1st) Dose Brand of Emergency Dose Take within 120 hours Contraception Pill Take 12 hours of intercourse after first (1st) dose Plan B (Over-the-counter - women 18 years & up) 1 pill 1 pill (Prescription - women 17 & younger.) 1 Dose ONLY Plan B – One Step

(Over-the-counter - women 17 years & up) - - - - - Take 1 pill within 120 (Prescription - women 16 & younger.) hours of intercourse

Second (2nd) Brand of Birth Control Pill First (1st) Dose Dose that can be used for EC Take within 120 hours Take 12 hours (available only by prescription ) of intercourse after first (1st) dose Alesse 5 pink pills 5 pink pills Aviane 5 orange pills 5 orange pills Cryselle 4 white pills 4 white pills Enpresse 4 orange pills 4 orange pills Jolessa 4 pink pills 4 pink pills Lessina 5 pink pills 5 pink pills Levlen 4 light-orange pills 4 light-orange pills Levlite 5 pink pills 5 pink pills Levora 4 white pills 4 white pills Lo/Ovral 4 white pills 4 white pills LoSeasonique 5 orange pills 5 orange pills Low-Ogestrel 4 white pills 4 white pills Lutera 5 white pills 5 white pills Lybrel 6 yellow pills 6 yellow pills Nordette 4 light-orange pills 4 light-orange pills Ogestrel 2 white pills 2 white pills Ovral 2 white pills 2 white pills Portia 4 pink pills 4 pink pills Quasense 4 white pills 4 white pills Seasonale 4 pink pills 4 pink pills 4 light-blue- 4 light-blue- Seasonique green pills green pills Sronyx 5 white pills 5 while pills Tri-Levlen 4 yellow pills 4 yellow pills Triphasil 4 yellow pills 4 yellow pills Trivora 4 pink pills 4 pink pills

Developed by the Michigan Department of Community Health (2009). Adapted from “Emergency Contraception (Pills),” Cedar River Clinics, 2005. 3