Emergency Contraception (EC)- Also known the “morning after” pill, EC is alarge dose of oral contraception. It is a safe and effective way to prevent pregnancy after unprotected intercourse. The hormones in EC prevent a woman from ovulating and thicken her cervical mucus. The mucus blocks sperm, preventing fertilization. Emergency contraception is birth control, not an abortion. It should be taken as soon as possible, but is effective if taken within five days (120 hours) of intercourse.If taken within 72 hours, EC is 89% effective.
EC is a back-up form of contraception and should not be used as routine birth control. Emergency contraception DOES NOT prevent against HIV or other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), so it is still important to practice safe sex.
In 2009, the FDA approved emergency contraception to be sold over the counter to men and women 17 and older. Women 16 and under are still required to obtain a prescription from a doctor, a family planning clinic, or a health department. There are three different options for emergency contraception: Plan B® consists of two pills that must be taken 12 hours apart. Next Choice® is the generic form of Plan B®. It also has two pills, but it is less expensive. Plan B One-Step® is the same medication as Plan B®, but packed in just one pill. It is just as safe and effective as Plan B®.
If you are 17 or older, emergency contraception is available over the counter. You can ask for it at your local pharmacy. If they do not stock it, demand a referral to another pharmacy that does stock EC.
While 80% of Maryland pharmacies stock emergency contraception, many pharmacies refuse to stock or, more likely, stock on an inconsistent basis. Furthermore, there is a growing problem of pharmacists refusing to fill women's legally prescribed birth control prescriptions or disperse emergency contraception. At this time, Maryland does not have legislation in place to ensure that pharmacists always dispense these important and lawful medications.
Approximately half of the pregnancies in the United States are unintended; half of those end in abortion.1 Access to EC reduces the need for abortion.
For more information or to find a provider in your area, call the emergency contraception hotline at (888) NOT-2-Late or visit ec.princeton.edu.
For more information about birth control, pregnancy options, and health care providers in Maryland, visit our online guide at www.ChoicesMD.org.
1. Stanley K. Henshaw, "Unintended Pregnancy in the United States," Family Planning Perspectives, Vol. 30 no. 1 (1998).
