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Emergency Birth Control (EBC) Consumer Guide
1. What is EBC?
5. Is EBC safe?
9. Download Consumer Guide as a .pdf
1. What is EBC?
Emergency birth control (EBC) is a safe and effective method of preventing pregnancy following unprotected sexual intercourse. EBC initiated within 72 hours of unprotected sexual intercourse reduces the chance of pregnancy by 89%, decreasing the random chance of pregnancy from 8% to 1% after a single act of unprotected sexual intercourse. It works with the hormones in your body by interfering with ovulation, fertilization, and implantation of the egg.
2. Can I still get pregnant?
Yes. EBC significantly reduces the chance you will get pregnant, but does not eliminate the possibility. By taking EC you may be at increased risk of ectopic (tubal) pregnancy which causes severe abdominal pain and can be life-threatening. You should call Feminist Women's Health Center immediately if you have severe abdominal pain and you should return to Feminist Women's Health Center for a urine pregnancy test (it’s free!) in 3 weeks if you have not had a menstrual period since taking EBC.
3. How soon can I take it?
EBC is commonly known as the “morning-after pill,” but that term is misleading; EBC may be taken sooner than the morning after—immediately after unprotected intercourse—or later—for up to 5 days (120 hours) after unprotected intercourse. Use of EBC within 3 days (72 hours) of unprotected intercourse is the best way to ensure that you do not get pregnant. More recent studies indicate that the pills continue to be moderately effective if started between 72 and 120 hours of unprotected intercourse.
4. What is Plan B ®?
The FDA has approved one dedicated emergency contraception product, Plan B ® which is available at pharmacies and clinics in a 2-pill package. The pills contain hormones that work in your body to stop the egg from being fertilized and/or implanted. The FDA has stated that several brands of Norgestrel or Levonorgestrel containing combined oral contraceptives (OC) are safe and effective for use as EBC as well (see the chart on page 3).5. Is EBC safe?
There have been no reports of long or short term health risks associated with EBC use . EBC will not end a pregnancy that has already started and no significant effects on fetal development have been reported or linked with women who take EBC. Therefore, pregnancy is a contraindication to EBC use not because of the risk of fetal harm, but because it will not work in the event of a pre-existing pregnancy.
6. What are the side effects?
The most common side effect is nausea. Plan B ® (because it is Levonorgestrel-only) is not likely to cause nausea; nausea and vomiting is much more common with the estrogen and progestin combined pills. To reduce the risk of vomiting the pills, you should have something to eat before taking the pills and you may want to take an over the counter anti-nausea medication (such as Dramamine) before you take the EBC pills.Repeat dose if either pill is vomited within 1 hour of swallowing,
Side effects vary widely from woman to woman, are similar to pre-menstrual type symptomsand depend largely on where you are in your menstrual cycle when the EBC is taken. Some women will experience irregular bleeding or spotting, breast tenderness, cramping, dizziness, headache, backache and a menstrual period that is either a few days early or a few days late. Please call if you have any questions about whether a side effect is normal.
There are other more serious side effects associated with the estrogen and progestin combined method of EBC (Yuzpe method). These side effects are the same ones associated with birth control pills (blood clots, stroke, allergic reaction, etc). All women with: undiagnosed vaginal bleeding, migraines, high blood pressure, blood clots, cardiac disease or liver disease should be screened and carefully evaluated by a licensed health care provider prior to being given any form of medication.
- Plan B ® ( Levonorgestrel-only method) – Take both pills at the same time, or in a divided dose 12 hours apart for a total treatment dose of 1.5mg levonorgestrel. The package inserts says to take the pills 12 hours apart, but new studies show that it is slightly more effective when both pills are taken at the same time.
- Yuzpe method –combination oral contraceptives containing a total treatment dose of at least 200 mcg of ethinyl estradiol and 1mg levonorgestrel or 2mg norgestrel. The FDA has stated that the following combined oral contraceptives are safe and effective for use as EBC: Ovral, Lo-Ovral, Nordette, Levlen, Levora, Triphasil, Tri-Levlen, Trivora, Alesse, and Levlite. Taken in 2 doses 12 hours apart, and initiated within 72 hours of unprotected sexual intercourse, use of the Yuzpe method reduces the chance of pregnancy by 75%, decreasing the rate of pregnancy from 8% to 2% after a single act of unprotected sexual intercourse.
See chart to determine which pills to take, how many and when:
Oral Contraceptives used for EBC / Progestin-Estrogen Combined (Yuzpe method)
Note : in 28-day packs, only the first 21 pills can be used
Take 2 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex and take 2 more pills 12 hours later:
Ovral
Ogestrel
Take 4 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex and take 4 more pills 12 hours later:
Cryselle
Nordette
Levlen
Portia
Levora
Seasonale
Lo/Ovral
Seasonique
Low-Ogestrel
Take 5 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex and take 5 more pills 12 hours later:
Alesse
Levlite
Aviane
Lutera
Lessina