If the condom breaks—or leaks or spills—use emergency contraception as soon as you can and up to five days after it happens. You may also want to get tested for STIs.
Emergency contraception
The condom broke. What should I do?
How do I time taking emergency contraception pills?
Plan B One-Step, Next Choice One Dose, My Way, and ella consist of just one pill that’s to be taken as soon as possible after unprotected sex. If you’re taking a generic with two pills, research shows you can take both pills at the same time—you don’t have to wait 12 hours after taking the first to take the second.
For more information, check out our section on How To Use emergency contraception.
How will emergency contraception pills affect my next period?
That may depend on where you were in your cycle when you took the EC. Your period may be a little early, a little late, or right on time. If your next period is more than 2 weeks late, you should take a pregnancy test. Just to make sure.
How can I avoid nausea as a side effect of taking emergency contraception?
To prevent nausea and vomiting, you can take the non-prescription anti-nausea medicine meclizine (also sold under the brand names Dramamine II or Bonine) an hour before taking the first dose of EC. Note that this might make you drowsy.
If you end up puking within an hour of taking a dose of EC, you may want to take that dose again in case your body didn’t absorb the hormones yet.
Is emergency contraception the same thing as the abortion pill?
No. No. No. If you’re already pregnant (even if you don’t know it yet), EC won’t work. EC can only prevent a pregnancy from starting; it can’t stop one that already has. And if you accidentally take EC before you know you’re pregnant, it won’t hurt you or the pregnancy.
Plan B seems expensive for one use. Is there a cheaper version?
There are a bunch of generic types of levonorgestrel-based EC pills for sale without a prescription over the counter or online. Generics are usually cheaper than brand names, and the cheapest alternative we know of, AfterPill, is only $25 including shipping. Note that AfterPill doesn’t offer expedited shipping, so you have to order it in advance, not after an emergency!
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