Emergency Contraception

Should unprotected sex occur, emergency contraception can be used to prevent pregnancy. The “morning after” pill can be bought over the counter. Popular brand, Plan B, is a hormonal pill. For non-hormonal pills like Ella, a prescription from a doctor is required. The longer you wait from the time you had sex to the time you take either pill will directly affect your chance of getting pregnant. It is suggested to take it right away as its effectiveness decreases as days go by. It is only effective for three to five days, when sperm is alive.

If you have not been regularly taking the pill and have unprotected sex, these can still be effective in preventing pregnancy. Catch up to the number of pills you failed to take beforehand. For every pill missed, you should add another pill to your daily dosage. Only take up to two per day until you’ve caught up to your regular schedule. This approach is less effective, though, and does not guarantee prevention of pregnancy. It can also increase the side effects, like nausea.

Not to be confused with the hormonal IUD discussed above, the copper-T IUD works as an emergency contraception. It is inserted into your body by a medical professional within five days of when you last had sex. The IUD can also prevent pregnancy for as long as you have it in place. It is a non-hormonal type of birth control and is 99% effective when used properly.