Emergency Contraception helps prevent a pregnancy when there is unprotected sexual contact. This happens when the birth control pill is forgotten or when the condom breaks.

In these cases, women can access the following options to protect against an unplanned pregnancy.

There are 3 available forms:

The Morning After Pill. It contains a hormone called Levonorgestrel. It prevents and delays ovulation. It can be purchased at the pharmacy without a prescription, and it works for up to 3 days after unprotected intercourse. The sooner it is taken, the better the results will be. If it is taken within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse, it can decrease the risk of pregnancy by 89%. It can even work better if taken sooner than 72 hours after intercourse. It is the third most effective method of emergency contraception.

The Ella Pill. It contains a progesterone blocker called Ulipristal acetate. It can ONLY be purchased at the pharmacy with a medical prescription. It works for up to 5 days after unprotected intercourse. Ella works best when taken as soon as possible after unprotected sex. If Ella is taken within 24 hours after unprotected intercourse, the chance of getting pregnant is less than 1%. And if Ella is taken within 5 days after unprotected intercourse, then the chance of getting pregnant is 1.3 percent. It is the second most effective method of emergency contraception

The Intrauterine Device Paragard. It is a copper IUD. This can be placed inside the uterus by a trained medical professional within 5 days after unprotected intercourse. It works by preventing sperm from penetrating and fertilizing the egg. Once placed, it can act as regular contraceptive for up to 10 years if so desired. It can be expensive if it is not a covered insurance benefit. It is the MOST EFFECTIVE emergency contraception!

All methods are available at our office!

Please book an appointment to ensure you are a suitable candidate for them. We can help you avoid an unplanned pregnancy.