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SearchEmergency Contraception
Emergency contraception pills are a birth control option that can be used after unprotected sex to help prevent pregnancy. Emergency contraception can be used if you forget to use your regular birth control method or if a method fails (for example, if a condom breaks). It is often called the "morning after" pill but this is somewhat misleading since it can be used up to 120 hours (5 days) after sex, not just the next morning. When women use emergency contraception, they reduce their chance of becoming pregnant by 75% or more.
Contact Health Services or your own provider within 5 days of the unprotected sex or birth control failure. The sooner emergency contraception is used, the more effective it is.
An office visit is necessary to complete a brief history and a blood pressure check. A written prescription would be given to the student to fill at an off-campus pharmacy.
Important Point to Remember
- Emergency contraception does not work as well to prevent pregnancy as using regular birth control. Therefore, you should not use emergency contraception as an ongoing method of birth control.
- Emergency contraception pills do not protect against sexually transmitted diseases (STD's). If you are at risk of a STD, use latex condoms to protect yourself.
- If you think you may have been exposed to a STD, ask your health care provider for a test.
For additional information about emergency contraception, visit the following sites:
