Emory Univ :: S.O.M. :: GYN-OB Dept. :: Emergency Contraceptive Pills (ECPs)

About Us | Maternity | Contraception | Termination | Resources | Emory

© Emory University

contraception : emergency contraception
Emergency Contraceptive Pills (ECPs)
"the morning after pill"

more
natural methods
physical devices
medication
surgical
emergency

Have you ever in your life:

Made love unexpectedly?
Been forced to have sex?
Had a condom break, slip, or come off?
Forgotten to take several birth control pills?
Awakened to realize you were having sex?
Expected your partner to pull out...but he didn't?
Found out after sex your diaphragm had slipped?

If the answer is "yes" to any of the above questions, you should know about emergency contraceptive pills.

What are emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs)?

ECPs are two large doses of ordinary birth control pills. Within 72 hours after unprotected intercourse, you can take emergency contraceptive pills to avoid becoming pregnant. A drug to prevent nausea is often taken as well.
If your ECPs are Alesse, you take 5 pills within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse and five more 12 hours later.
If your ECPs are Lo-Ovral, Nordette, Levlen, Tri Levlen (yellow pills), or Tri Phasil (yellow pills), you take 4 pills within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse and four more 12 hours later.
If your ECPs are Ovral, you take 2 pills within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse and 2 more 12 hours later. Ovral is usually more expensive than other ECPs and some drugstores don't carry Ovral.
Complete information about emergency contraceptive pills is available through your clinician.

ECP	Dose 1	Dose 2
Alesse	ooooo	ooooo
Lo-Ovral Nordette Levlen Triphasil (yellow pills) Trilevlen (yellow pills)	oooo	oooo
Ovral	oo	oo

Advantages:

ECPs prevent unwanted pregnancies after unprotected sex.
Some women who can't take birth control pills on a regular basis can still use ECPs.
ECPs prevent abortions and cost less than an abortion.
They can be obtained and left in your medicine cabinet in case of an emergency.

Disadvantages:

ECPs may cause nausea (in about 50% of women) or vomiting (in about 20% of women).
They are not as effective as other contraceptives.
ECPs should not be used as your primary contraceptive. However, if you must use ECPs several times, they are not dangerous.
You must get a prescription for ECPs from your clinician. They are not available over the counter.

Where can I get emergency contraceptive pills?
For 72 hours AFTER unprotected sex, you can take emergency contraceptive pills to avoid becoming pregnant. For up to 7 days AFTER unprotected sex, you can have an IUD put in. Not all clinicians know about emergency contraception. If you want more information or would like the phone numbers of clinicians near you who prescribe emergency contraception, CALL the toll-free hotline 1-888-NOT-2-LATE or 1-800-584-9911. Some of these sources of help are free.

emergency contraception
ECP
IUD
Español
Francais

Last Update: 12/13/2005