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What is it?
What is it?
Emergency contraception (Emergency BC, EC) consists of methods that can be used by people with uteruses after unprotected sexual intercourse to prevent pregnancy. It prevents pregnancy by stopping ovulation, fertilization, or, possibly, implantation.
When can I take it?
When can I take it?
While emergency contraception has also been called the "morning-after pill," you do not need to wait until the morning after unprotected sex to take it. Take emergency birth control as soon as you realize you have unprotected sex. This might mean missing a birth control pill, malfunction condom, or dislocated IUD.
Emergency BC pills are no abortion pill. If you are already pregnant, emergency contraception pills do not stop or harm your pregnancy.
Why would I take it?
Why would I take it?
A person who can get pregnant may take Emergency Birth Control (Emergency Contraception, Emergency BC, EC) if they want to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sexual activity. EC can help to prevent pregnancy after sex in circumstances such as these:
you didn’t use or forgot to take your normal birth control
you didn’t use a condom during vaginal sex
the condom broke or slipped off during sex
they didn’t use the withdrawal method correctly (didn’t pull out in time)
you don’t think your normal birth control worked correctly (didn’t take your pill on time, ring moved, etc.)
you were sexually assaulted and/or raped (forced to have unprotected vaginal sex)
you are unsure if protection was used
While there are no long term side effects and EC is safe to use multiple times it is not a replacement for regular birth control methods. Using EC over and over is more expensive than regular birth control and the EC pill is not as effective as other options are on a daily basis.
Side Effects
Side Effects
Emergency contraception pills are safe, don’t cause any long-term side effects, and won’t affect your ability to get pregnant in the future. Think about them as a larger dose of your normal birth control hormones. Some short term effects are:
bleeding between periods
nausea
tender breasts
lightheadedness or dizziness
However, these effects should go away after a few days. If you vomit within two hours after taking the morning-after pill, ask your health care provider if you should take another dose.
It is common for your next period (menstrual cycle) to be different after using EC. This can mean a change in when it starts, how long it lasts or your flow.
Things to Keep in Mind
Things to Keep in Mind
Ella works less well if you weigh 195 pounds or more. IUDs work just as well no matter how much you weigh.
Timing: Some methods of Emergency BC are more readily accessible than others. Ella can be harder to get than Plan B because you need a prescription. An IUD can also be hard to get within 5 days because you need an appointment for a nurse or doctor to put it in.
On-campus support
On-campus support
If you need an Emergency Birth Control, call Student Health Services during open hours. RISD’s health service provides Emergency Birth Control Pill (Plan B) with no cost.
If it is after open hours, you can get Emergency BC over the counter in any local pharmacies. Currently, you don’t need any prescription for Plan B in the State of Rhode Island. If you want to get an IUD implant, you can also call Student Health Services for a referral to a local gynecologist.
If it is after hours, it is recommended by Student Health Services to go to Planned Parenthood as they can put in the referral retrospectively for insurance purposes.
In the case that you are seeking Emergency Birth Control after a sexual assault or rape, please contact Student Health Services. If it is outside of open hours for Student Health Services you can access medical support including EC after an assault or rape at the following locations, Planned Parenthood, Day One and Women’s and Infant Hospital. Follow the link for more information about resources and support after a sexual assault.
Off-campus resources
Off-campus resources
Local pharmacies, public health centers, private doctors, and hospital emergency rooms
Call 1-800-230-PLAN to find the Planned Parenthood Health Center nearest you, or look up the nearest clinic on their website.
More information and resources
More information and resources
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