Emergency contraception is a method to prevent pregnancy in women who have had unprotected sex, or for whom a barrier method has failed (slipped condom, diaphragm, or cervical cap, or broken condom).
Alternative NamesMorning-after pill; Postcoital contraception; Birth Control - emergency; Plan B
InformationEmergency contraception may be used following many different situations, including:
Emergency contraception medicine is not the same as the "abortion pill." A woman who knows she is pregnant takes the abortion pill with the intent to end an early pregnancy (usually 4 to 7 weeks after conception). Emergency contraception pills are taken after unprotected sex to prevent pregnancy from occurring.
TYPE OF EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION
Several types of emergency contraception drugs are available.
Two emergency contraceptive pills have been approved:
Birth control pills, if available, can be used for emergency contraception. You must take two to five "regular" pills together to equal one dose of emergency contraception. It is best to talk to your health care provider about the correct dosage before doing this.
An alternative emergency contraception relies on insertion of a copper-releasing intrauterine device (IUD) within 5 days (120 hours) after unprotected intercourse. It can be removed after your next period, or left in place to provide ongoing contraception. The copper IUD reduces the risk of pregnancy by 99.9%.
MORE ABOUT EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTIVE PILLS
Both types Plan B One-Step and Next Choice are available over-the-counter (without a prescription) to women 17 years and older. Women younger than 17 can contact their health care provider to get a prescription for these pills. These pills are still considered safe to use for this younger age group.
Emergency contraceptives work best when taken within the first 24 hours after intercourse.
Emergency contraceptives work mostly by preventing or delaying the release of an egg (ovulation) - the same way that taking regular birth control pills works. It is possible that these drugs work by preventing an egg from being fertilized by a sperm, or by preventing a fertilized egg from implanting in (sticking to) the walls of your uterus (womb).
Mild and often unpleasant side effects from emergency contraception medication may include:
After taking emergency contraception, a woman's next menstrual cycle may start earlier or later than expected and the menstrual flow may be lighter or heavier than usual.
OTHER IMPORTANT FACTS
Women who believe that they are already pregnant and may have been for longer than several days should not take emergency contraception medicine. Also, women who have vaginal bleeding for an unknown reason should discuss this with their health care provider before taking emergency contraception.
Women who cannot take birth control pills regularly may often still be able to use emergency contraceptives, but they should also discuss this option with their health care provider.
If emergency contraception fails and the woman becomes pregnant, there do not appear to be any long-term effects on the pregnancy or the fetus.
Emergency contraception should not be used as a routine birth control method, because it is actually less effective at preventing pregnancies than most types of birth control.
ReferencesAmy JJ, Tripathi V. Contraception for women: an evidence based overview. BMJ. 2009;339:b2895.doi:10.1136/bmj.b2895.
Prine L. Emergency contraception: myths and facts. Obstet Gynecol Clin N Am. 2007;34:127-136
Mischell DR. Family planning: contraception, sterilization, and pregnancy termination. In: Katz VL, Lentz GM, Lobo RA, Gershenson DM, eds. Comprehensive Gynecology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2007:chap 14.
Emergency contraception is a method to prevent pregnancy in women who have had unprotected sex or when birth control methods have failed. It may be used after the following situations:
Morning-after pill; Postcoital contraception; Birth control - emergency; Plan B
InformationEmergency contraception medicine is not the same as the "abortion pill."
Emergency contraception prevents or delays the release of an egg from a woman's ovaries.
TYPES OF EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION
Several types of emergency contraception drugs are available. Two emergency contraceptive pills have been approved:
Birth control pills, if available, may also be used for emergency contraception. It is best to talk to your health care provider about the correct dosage before doing this. In general, you must take two to five birth control pills at the same time to have the same effect as emergency contraception.
A copper-releasing intrauterine device (IUD) may be used as an alternative emergency contraception method. It must be inserted by your health care provider within 5 days of having unprotected sex. Your doctor can remove it after your next period, or you may choose to leave it in place to provide ongoing birth control.
MORE ABOUT EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTIVE PILLS
Women ages 17 and older can buy Plan B One-Step and Next Choice at a pharmacy without a prescription or visit to the doctor. Younger girls need to contact a health care provider to get a prescription for these pills.
Emergency contraception works best when you use it within 24 hours of having sex. However, it may still prevent pregnancy for up to 5 days after you first had sex.
Emergency contraception may cause side effects. Most are mild. They may include:
Stomach aches are most common when an estrogen-containing pill is used. Side effects are less common with Plan B, which contains a synthetic progesterone.
After you use emergency contraception, your next menstrual cycle may start earlier or later than usual. Your menstrual flow may be lighter or heavier than usual.
Sometime, emergency contraception does not work. However, research suggests that emergency contraceptives have no long-term effects on the pregnancy or developing baby.
OTHER IMPORTANT FACTS
You should not use emergency contraception if:
You may be able to use emergency contraception even if you cannot regularly take birth control pills. Talk to your doctor about your options.
Emergency contraception should not be used as a routine birth control method, because it is actually less effective at preventing pregnancies than most types of birth control.
ReferencesTibbles CD. Selected gynecologic disorders. In: Marx JA, Hockberger RS, Walls RM, et al, eds. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2009:chap 98.
Amy JJ, Tripathi V. Contraception for women: an evidence based overview. BMJ. 2009;339:b2895.doi:10.1136/bmj.b2895.
Prine L. Emergency contraception: myths and facts. Obstet Gynecol Clin N Am. 2007;34:127–136
Mischell DR. Family planning: contraception, sterilization, and pregnancy termination. In: Katz VL, Lentz GM, Lobo RA, Gershenson DM, eds. Comprehensive Gynecology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2007:chap 14.
Reviewed ByReview Date: 02/28/2011
Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of Medicine; Susan Storck, MD, FACOG, Chief, Eastside Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound, Bellevue, Washington; Clinical Teaching Faculty, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
Emergency contraception
紧急避孕 = emergency contraception simplified form. 緊急避孕 = emergency contraception traditional form.
After using emergency contraception, your period may come a week earlier, a week later, or right on time.
To the Contrary - 1992 Emergency Contraception 11-18 was released on: USA: 19 July 2002
Emergency contraception is a broad term referring to anything that can reduce the risk of pregnancy after intercourse. Plan B is one brand name of one type of emergency contraception.
To the Contrary - 1992 Emergency Contraception II 12-27 was released on: USA: 19 September 2003
EC often means emergency contraception
The morning after pill or emergency contraception will not effect the outcome of a pregnancy test. If you have taken emergency contraception and have had a positive home pregnancy test you are very likely pregnant and should see a Dr.
For the most part you can't differentiate between the two. A withdrawal bleed from emergency contraception will occur within a few days of taking the emergency contraception, but if you predicted your period to start around that same time it's easy to mistake the two. You may be able to tell based on how you feel and any symptoms you experience. If you're worried about pregnancy then take a test two weeks after you had sex in order to check the emergency contraception worked.
No, Fem-con does not contain the right ingredients to use used for emergency contraception.
Yes. Ask your doctor about it. However, do not ask for the morning after pill unless you need emergency contraception.
Take four active pills as soon as possible after the accident, and four active pills twelve hours later.