Emergency Contraception:
A Guide for Parents
Emergency contraception (EC), also called the “morning after pill” is a backup method of birth control to prevent unwanted pregnancies. EC has been prescribed by doctors for more than 30 years. Now it is available in most pharmacies without a prescription to women over the age of 18. If you are a parent you probably have questions about EC. This guide was created to answer the most frequently asked questions.
What is emergency contraception?
Emergency contraception (EC) is a treatment to prevent pregnancy in adolescent girls and adult women who have had unprotected sex. It is not meant to be used as regular birth control. Although it is often called the “morning after pill,” it can actually be used within 120 hours (5 days) of unprotected intercourse. Emergency contraception is more effective the sooner it is taken after unprotected sex.
Under what circumstances should a young woman use emergency contraception (EC)?
Emergency contraception (EC) is indicated if:
How does emergency contraception work?
Emergency contraception (EC) uses a high dose of hormones (either progestin alone or a combination of estrogen and progestin) to give a strong, short burst that breaks the hormonal cycle that is needed for ovulation to occur.
It is important to for young women to know that EC doesn’t continue to protect against pregnancy during the rest of the cycle.
Does emergency contraception cause an abortion?
Emergency contraception does not work if a young woman is already pregnant. EC will NOT cause an abortion.
How is emergency contraception taken?
There are two types of emergency contraception that use hormone pills:
How effective is emergency contraception?
It is important to remember that emergency contraception does not always work. It does not guarantee that pregnancy is prevented. Emergency contraception decreases a woman’s risk of pregnancy by 75-89%. The best way to prevent pregnancy is for a young woman to use a regular birth control method such as condoms, or birth control pills, or not have sexual intercourse.
Is emergency contraception safe?
Yes. There have been no reports of serious complications among the millions of women who have used emergency contraception. Emergency contraception is not recommended if a young woman knows she is pregnant because in this situation, it will not work.
Does emergency contraception cause birth defects?
Emergency contraception does not cause birth defects or affect the health of future children that a woman may have.
Are there any side effects of emergency contraception?
There are almost no side effects with Plan B®. If regular birth control pills are prescribed instead of Plan B®, side effects may include nausea, vomiting, and breast soreness. An anti-nausea pill can be prescribed and taken an hour before each dose or over-the-counter medicine such as Dramamine II® or Bonine® may be used. Side effects from emergency contraception (when using regular birth control pills) usually disappear after 1-2 days.
Where can my daughter get emergency contraception?
In the United States, Plan B® (emergency contraception) is available to women 18 and older at pharmacies without a prescription. For teens, Plan B® may require a prescription depending upon the state; some states have a program that allows pharmacists to dispense the medication to young women under 18. A woman may need to check several pharmacies since Plan B® is not available in all pharmacies. Use the EC website at http://ec.princeton.edu/index.html to locate a doctor or pharmacy or call the toll free phone number 1-888-NOT-2-LATE if you or your daughter have any questions about emergency contraception.
If your daughter is under 18, she may wish to obtain a prescription for Plan B® from her health care provider to have in case of an emergency. This way, she will already have the prescription to use immediately if she needs to.
Is my daughter more likely to have unprotected sex if she has access to emergency contraception?
Multiple research studies have shown that easier access to emergency contraception does not increase unprotected intercourse or increase the risk of sexually transmitted diseases (STD’s).
Can my daughter use emergency contraception as a regular form of birth control?
Emergency contraception is not meant to be your daughter’s regular method of birth control. It is meant to be a one-time emergency treatment. Your daughter should not use emergency contraception as her only protection against pregnancy, because this method is much less effective than other forms of birth control used on a regular basis. Also, emergency contraception does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases (STD’s).
What else should your daughter do to prevent pregnancy after she has taken emergency contraception?
Your daughter should talk to her health care provider about effective contraceptive methods. Her health care provider may suggest that she start birth control pills right away after emergency contraception. Find out more on birth control methods so you can talk with your daughter about what might be best for her.
How should I talk to my daughter about emergency contraception?
You can start by asking her if she has heard about emergency contraception (EC). You might want to mention that you recently read an article about it. If she has heard about EC, you may wish to ask her if she has an opinion about it, and then share your thoughts. It is important that she understands your values, and it is equally important for you to hear her feelings about EC.
Your daughter’s reproductive health is an important aspect of her overall health and well-being. Encourage her to establish a trusting relationship with her health care provider. It is valuable for your daughter to learn about all of the options available to her so she can become proactive about her health.
Key Points to Remember about Emergency Contraception (EC)
Talking openly with your teen, and listening to her, even when you disagree, will help to promote good communication. Let you daughter know that her safety and good health are your primary concerns. |
Additional Resources
The Emergency Contraception Website
http://www.Not-2-Late.com
Operated by the Office of Population Research at Princeton University and by the Association of Reproductive Health Professionals. The mission of the website is to increase women's knowledge about and timely access to emergency contraception and other reproductive health choices, both in the United States and abroad.
http://www.4women.gov/faq/econtracep.htm
A fact sheet on emergency contraception compiled by the National Women’s Health Information Center.
Emergency Contraception: What Parents Can Do
http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/emergencycontraception/parent.htm
A collection of suggestions from the non-profit organization Advocates for Youth.
1-888-NOT-2-LATE
Call the toll free phone number 1-888-NOT-2-LATE to locate a doctor or pharmacy that can prescribe emergency contraception or if you or your daughter has any questions about emergency contraception.
Updated 1/8/2008
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