Emergency Contraception
Available at many drugstores without a prescription, most “morning-after” birth control pills such as Plan B One-Step work best when taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex. Next Choice One Dose can be taken up to 120 hours after unprotected sex. The prescription-only emergency contraceptive pill ella is effective for up to five days after unprotected sex. In addition, some women use the copper T IUD ParaGard as protection against contraception in emergencies. Common side effects for these pills include nausea, abdominal pain, fatigue, headache, menstrual changes, dizziness, breast tenderness, vomiting and unexpected bleeding. Side effects for the copper T IUD are mild pain when inserted, spotting and cramping.
How it works: Morning-after pills prevent or delay ovulation and, depending on where a woman is in her menstrual cycle, may change the lining of the uterus to stop the implantation of a fertilized egg. A doctor can insert the ParaGard into a woman’s uterus five to seven days after unprotected sex to keep sperm from fertilizing an egg. The ella pill contains the active ingredient ulipristal acetate, which delays ovulation and prevents pregnancy.
Cost: Morning after pills ($35 to $45), ella ($67), copper T IUD (just over $1,600). Call your insurance company, clinic or doctor’s office for cost and potential payment options.
Rates of effectiveness: Plan B and other morning-after pills reduce the risk of pregnancy by 75 to 89 percent if taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex and are 95 percent effective if taken within 24 hours. Ella, lowers pregnancy risk by 85 percent if taken within five days. Emergency insertion of a copper T IUD lowers the risk of getting pregnant by more than 99 percent and is the most effective form of emergency contraception.
Click here for more details about each method of contraception.
