Emergency Contraception

The most widely used types of emergency contraceptive pills are:

1. Progestin-only pills (Plan B® One-Step, Next Choice®)

2. Ulipristal acetate (ella®)

What emergency contraception does:

• Prevents pregnancy

• Are NOT effective after pregnancy has occurred and they will not harm the developing fetus

• It is NOT the same as RU-486 (the abortion pill)

• Using Emergency Contraceptive pills will not affect a woman’s ability to become pregnant in the future

• It is best to take EC as soon as possible; the sooner you take EC the more effective it is.

• It has been shown to be effective for up to 5 days.

• For more information, talk to your pharmacist or doctor.

When taken as directed, Emergency Contraception has been shown to be safe and effective

• Emergency Contraception may reduce the risk of pregnancy by up to 89 percent.

• The effectiveness of EC varies based on the type used and when it is taken.

• EC is only recommended as a backup and should not be used as your primary method of birth control.

• Emergency Contraceptive pills do not protect against sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS.