Have you ever had an episode of unprotected sex and then worried that you (or your girlfriend) might be pregnant? Have you heard of emergency contraceptive pills but not really known what they are or what they do? To find out more about ECP's, how they work, and who can use them, keep reading!
What are ECP's?
ECP's are emergency contraception available for women to use after unprotected sex has occurred. This may include circumstances such as: mechanical failure of a device (the condom breaks, the diaphragm becomes dislodged), missed pills, getting swept away and forgetting to use contraception, and the unfortunate circumstance of rape. This is an option available to women who want to decrease the risk of pregnancy after the exposure has already occurred.
ECP's are certain types of regular birth control pills; however they are used differently from the customary use. The current treatment is to begin pills within 72 hours after unprotected intercourse has occurred. A second set of pills is taken twelve hours following the first dose. The earlier the pills are begun, the more effective they are.
ECP's are sometimes called the morning after pill. This term is misleading because ECP's may be taken from the time unprotected intercourse has occurred until three days (72 hours) later.
ECP's are meant for emergency protection after the fact to prevent pregnancy. They are not as effective as other forms of birth control, and they offer no STD protection.
How do ECP's work?
ECP'S work by:
- preventing or delaying ovulation
- or preventing fertilization of an egg after ovulation
- or preventing implantation of a fertilized egg into the uterus.
ECP's are NOT the same thing as RU-486, the "abortion pill." RU-486 works by interrupting a pregnancy after implantation has already taken place.
How effective are ECP's?
The risk of becoming pregnant will decrease by 75% if taken within three days of unprotected intercourse.
ECP's are not as effective as other contraceptives. This is why they should be used in emergencies and not as a regular method of birth control.
No evidence of any increased risk of birth defects in infants has been linked to women who have become pregnant when they used ECP's.
Who can/can not use ECP's?
A woman can take ECP's if she has had one episode of unprotected sex within the last 72 hours and does not want to risk pregnancy.
A woman cannot take ECP's if she knows she is pregnant and/or has a positive pregnancy test.
Please note that ECP's will not work if you are already pregnant. You must take a pregnancy test to assure that yo uare not pregnant before the pills will be prescribed.
Temporary side effects.
- Nausea occurs 50-70% of the time and vomiting occurs 22% of the time.
- Side effects usually subside within a day or two after taking ECP's.
- Your next period may come early or late.
- In rare cases, you may experience heavy bleeding and/or abdominal pain.