Every year 3 million women become pregnant unintentionally in the United States. Unwanted pregnancy is associated with increased poverty and increased infant mortality. Easy and affordable access to emergency contraception can provide women the ability to make informed decisions about when and if to become parents.
Emergency contraception is a safe and effective form of back up birth control that prevents pregnancy after sex. Sometimes called the “Morning After Pill”, the most common form of emergency contraception comes in a pill that can be taken in two doses within 72 hours of sexual intercourse in order to prevent pregnancy from occurring. EC pills contain a more potent dose of the same hormones that are found in common birth control pills. When used correctly, emergency contraception is
up to 80-95% effective. Experts at the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists estimate that emergency contraception could prevent 800,000 abortions and 1.7 million unintended pregnancies in the united States annually.
Plan B is a type of Emergency Contraception (EC) now available over-the-counter in many pharmacies statewide. You have to be 18 or over to buy Plan B over the counter. Family Tree also offers Plan B over the counter to those 18 & older, and by appointment to those 17 & under.
Any woman who is concerned that she may become pregnant because she has recently had unprotected intercourse may use EC. It is important to take EC pills as soon as possible after unprotected sex or the failure of other birth control methods. EC will have no effect on any existing pregnancy.
EC pills prevent pregnancy in the same way that the daily birth control pill does. EC pills stop an egg from being released from a women’s ovary and stops an egg from being fertilized, or by being reached by the sperm. Used correctly, emergency contraception reduces the chance of pregnancy to approximately 2%. In other words, if a hundred women have unprotected sex during the middle of their cycle and all use EC pills within 72 hours, only two will become pregnant. EC DOES NOT cause an abortion. Emergency Contraception cannot cause a miscarriage and there is no evidence to suggest that EC pills can cause harm to a fetus if the user does become pregnant.
The most commonly reported side effects are nausea (in about 23% of women) or vomiting (in about 6% of women). Taking an anti-nausea pill such as Meclizine 50mg (Dramamine II) one hour before each dose of emergency contraceptive pills may prevent nausea. There are no long-term effects in women who take emergency contraception pills. Emergency contraception pills will not disrupt an already established pregnancy. Most women can safely use emergency contraceptive pills, even if they cannot use birth control pills as their regular method of birth control.
Listen to Family Tree’s EC radio ad. (MP3)
