Emergency Contraception

Emergency contraception, commonly referred to as the morning after pill, can be used to prevent unplanned pregnancy after unprotected sexual intercourse, for example, when a condom breaks or comes off, after sexual assault or after any unprotected sexual intercourse.

Emergency contraception can be used up to 72 hours after unprotected intercourse, but the sooner it is used, the more effective it is at preventing pregnancy.

For more information about "non-emergency" contraception, call the Health Center for an appointment, 346-2770. Contraception is free for women and men who qualify for FPEP (Family Planning Expansion Project).

Plan B is form of emergency contraception that is now available without a prescription for women 18 years and older. It is available at most pharmacies including the Health Center pharmacy. Women younger than 18 must have a prescription for Plan B. A piece of government-issued identification that includes your date of birth is required for all over-the-counter Plan B purchases by federal law.

The University Health Center prescribes emergency contraception. Call for an appointment (346-2770) and specify that you are calling about "emergency contraception" so that your appointment will not be delayed. In addition to our weekday hours, the Health Center is open most weekends during Fall, Winter and Spring terms. Emergency contraception is free through the Health Center if you are eligible for FPEP.

The most commonly prescribed emergency contraceptive is Plan B. See below to read more about Plan B. Ask your health care provider if you can have a prescription for Plan B to have on-hand in the event that you need it in the future.

For more information about emergency contraception, go to www.not-2-late.com

Plan B - The Next Generation of Emergency Contraception

What is Plan B?

Plan B is the first progestin-only emergency contraceptive to be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It can be used to prevent pregnancy within 72 hours after a contraceptive accident or unprotected sex. Research clearly shows that Plan B is more effective the sooner it is taken. Plan B is safe and effective for most women. Each Plan B packet includes a single course of treatment and consists of two tablets, each containing 0.75 mg levonorgestrel. Both tablets can be taken at the same time as soon as possible after the unprotected intercourse.

When is Plan B appropriate?

Plan B provides an important safety net for women whose regular contraceptive method may have failed. This may be when a condom breaks or falls off, if two or more pills in a row are missed, if the patch has fallen off for more than one day, if the Nuvaring has fallen out or been left out for more than three hours, if a Depo Provera injection has been missed or if one was sexually assaulted. Plan B is not a substitute for correct use of regular contraceptives as it is less effective. Plan B provides no protection from HIV/AIDS or sexually transmitted infections.

How does Plan B work?

Plan B is believed to act as an emergency contraceptive principally by delaying ovulation or preventing fertilization. In addition, it may inhibit implantation by altering the endometrium. Plan B is not effective if a woman is pregnant. Plan B cannot terminate an established pregnancy.

How effective is Plan B?

Plan B reduces the risk of pregnancy by 89 to 95 percent after a single act of unprotected sex. Effectiveness declines as the interval between intercourse and the start of treatment increases. Plan B is more effective the sooner it is taken after intercourse.

How safe is Plan B?

No serious complications have been associated with Plan B. Used as directed, Plan B is safe for most women. Plan B should not be used by women who are already pregnant, who have undiagnosed abnormal genital bleeding, or who are hypersensitive to an ingredient in the product.

Do women who use Plan B experience side effects?

Some women experience temporary side effects after taking Plan B. Approximately 23 percent of women taking Plan B experience nausea and 5.6 percent vomit. Other side effects may include lower abdominal pain (17.6 percent) fatigue (16.9 percent), headache (16.8 percent), dizziness (11.2 percent), breast tenderness (10.7 percent), and menstrual changes, including heavier bleeding (13.8 percent) and lighter bleeding (12.5 percent) or spotting.

If Plan B fails, is there any risk to a developing fetus?

While no studies have specifically ruled out the possibility of teratogenic effects, there are no biomedical or scientific data to suggest that there would be an increased risk of birth defects if Plan B fails or if a woman who is already pregnant takes Plan B. Studies involving women who have inadvertently taken combined oral contraceptives containing levonorgestrel during early pregnancy suggest that these drugs do not have an adverse effect on the fetus.

For More Information: Contact UO Health Center at 346-2770.