Emergency contraception

Over-the-counter emergency contraception (EC) pills, like Plan B One-Step, Next Choice One Dose, My Way, and the prescription EC pill, ella, consist of just one pill that’s you take as soon as possible after unprotected sex (you don’t have to wait for the morning after). EC pills are more effective the sooner you take them after unprotected sex but can be effective for up to 5 days after sex.

To prevent nausea and vomiting, you can take the over-the-counter anti-nausea medicine meclizine (also sold under the brand names Dramamine II or Bonine) an hour before taking emergency contraception (EC) pills. Note that these anti-nausea medications might make you drowsy.

If you end up puking within an hour of taking EC pills, you may want to take it again in case your body didn’t absorb the hormones yet.

Some enzyme inducer medications and herbal supplements, including a type of antibiotics used to treat tuberculosis; efavirenz, an antiviral used to treat HIV; St. John’s Wort; the seizure medication phenytoin (Dilantin); and the antifungal, griseofulvin, may reduce the effectiveness of emergency contraceptive (EC) pills. So if you are using an enzyme inducer, talk to a health care provider about if EC pills will be effective for you or consider getting an IUD for EC—it’s the most effective option regardless of your other medications.

Yes. You need to take another dose of emergency contraception (EC) every time you have sex and don’t use another method of birth control.

Yup. People of all ages and genders can buy over-the-counter emergency contraception (EC) for themselves or someone else without a prescription.

Plan B One-Step, Next Choice One Dose, and other over-the-counter emergency contraception (EC) pills all contain the same medication and work to prevent pregnancy before it starts by delaying ovulation (when your ovary releases an egg). Prescription EC pills ella contain a slightly different medication that also works to prevent pregnancy before it starts by delaying ovulation. That means that no type of EC pills are the same as medication abortion. While all methods of emergency contraception can be used up to five days after unprotected sex, over-the-counter EC is most effective when used within 72 hours (three days), and works even better within 24 hours. But ella is just as effective on the fifth day as it is on the first. How effective EC pills are at preventing pregnancy also depends on how much you weigh. Over-the-counter EC pills are less effective if you weigh 165 pounds or more and prescription EC is less effective if you weigh more than 195 pounds.

Anyone can buy over-the-counter EC pills, at their local pharmacy or clinic without a prescription, regardless of age or gender.

Your weight will not impact how effective your birth control is for almost all types of birth control. Two exceptions are the patch and emergency contraception.

For the patch, Xulane or Zafemy, may be less effective if you weigh more than 198 pounds. Twirla, the lower-dose patch option, may be less effective at preventing pregnancy if your BMI is 25 or greater, and it should not be used at all if your BMI is 30 or greater because of decreased effectiveness and a potentially increased risk of blood clots.

When it comes to emergency contraception, over-the counter levonorgestrel-based emergency contraception, like Plan B One-Step, Next Choice One Dose, and others, may not be as effective in people who weigh 165 pounds or more. Prescription EC pill, ella, may not work as well if you weigh 195 pounds or more. Some types of IUD work as EC and they are equally effective no matter how much you weigh.

The effectiveness of emergency contraception (EC) depends on what type you use, how soon you take it after having sex, and how much you weigh

If you’re taking over-the-counter EC pills, like Plan B One-Step, Next Choice, or other generics, the sooner you take it after sex, the more effective it is. We repeat: the sooner, the better. You can take it for up to 5 days, but within 3 days is more effective. (You can even get some to have on hand so you have it when you need it.) Over-the-counter EC pills are less effective if you weigh more than 165 pounds, and unfortunately, research shows that taking more than one at a time doesn’t work.

If you’re taking the prescription EC pill, brand name ella, you can take it up to 5 days after sex. Unlike over-the-counter EC pills, it’s as effective on day five as it is on day one. Prescription EC is less effective if you weigh more than 195 pounds.

Getting some types of IUD placed within five days after sex is the most effective method of EC, no matter how much you weigh.

Levonorgestrel is one of the longest-studied types of progestin which is the synthetic version of progesterone, a hormone made by the body. And all the scientific evidence to date shows it is super safe. It’s used in hormonal IUDs, some emergency contraception pills, and certain birth control pills.

If you had sex within the last five days and didn’t use a method of birth control, you might want to use emergency contraception (EC) to prevent pregnancy. You can get over-the-counter EC pills, like Plan B, without a prescription or talk to a health care provider to get prescription EC pills. You can also look into getting some types of IUD, the most effective emergency contraceptive option.

If it’s been more than five days, you can get a pregnancy test or go to the doctor to see if you are, in fact, pregnant. You have to wait at least 10 days after unprotected sex for the tests to work, and they are more accurate if you wait to take them until a few days after you expect your next period. If you’re not pregnant, you can consider getting started with a birth control method.

Over-the-counter EC pills should be available at most pharmacies and health clinics, but you can call before going to get it. EC pills are also often sold at big box stores and online, as well. That said, you can consider getting a dose of EC to keep on hand for “just in case” moments because the sooner you take EC pills, the more effective they are at preventing pregnancy.