Emergency Contraception (EC) is
available at Downeast Health Services Family Planning Clinics. If
you need EC during hours when the clinic is not open, The Family
Planning Association of Maine has information about At and Over the
Counter EC Pharmacies.
Visit their web visit...
Consider using Emergency
Contraception if:
Contraceptives were not used during sex
You think your contraception didn’t work.
What are Emergency
Contraception pills?
Emergency contraceptives are methods of preventing
pregnancy after unprotected sexual intercourse. Emergency contraception
(EC) is often called "morning after contraception" or "the morning after
pill" but these terms are misleading because emergency contraception can
be used before the morning after or up to five days after. Emergency
contraception can be used when a condom breaks, after a sexual assault,
or any time unprotected sexual intercourse occurs.
Emergency Contraception pills contain some of the same
medication as regular birth control pills, and help to prevent
pregnancy. Plan B a progestin-only pill is now the only dedicated
product specifically used for Emergency Contraception.
Don’t wait! Take EC as soon as possible.
- It is best to take
EC within three days of unprotected sex although there is evidence
it is effective up to 5 days.
- The sooner you
take EC the more effective it is.
- The ECP Plan B has
an off label use stating that you can take the two Plan B tablets at
the same time. The evidence suggests this is as equally effective as
taking them 12 hours apart.
EC is safe and effective.
- Progestin-only
pills reduce the risk of pregnancy by 89 percent.
- For regular,
long-term use, other contraception methods are more effective than
EC.
- Emergency
Contraception pills do not protect against sexually transmitted
infections, including HIV/AIDS.
EC won’t cause an abortion.
- Use of emergency contraception does not cause an
abortion. In fact, emergency contraception prevents pregnancy and
thereby reduces the need for induced abortion.
Medical authorities such as the United States Food and Drug
Administration/National Institutes of Health and the American
College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists define the beginning of
pregnancy as the implantation of a fertilized egg in the lining of a
woman's uterus. Implantation begins five to seven days after
fertilization (and is completed several days later). Emergency
contraceptives work before implantation and not after a woman is
already pregnant.
- Emergency Contraception pills are
NOT the same as RU-486 (the abortion pill).
- Emergency Contraception pills are
not effective after pregnancy has occurred and cannot interrupt it.
EC should not be taken if:
- You are already
pregnant or suspect you may be pregnant.
- Have a
hypersensitivity or allergy to any of the products in the Emergency
Contraception pill.
- Have any
undiagnosed abnormal vaginal bleeding.
Some reactions to the EC may include:
- Nausea, vomiting,
dizziness, breast tenderness, early or late menstrual period.
- If some of these
reactions persist and you become concerned call you healthcare
provider, family planning office or local emergency room.
EC won’t harm a developing fetus.
- If Emergency
Contraception pills are taken mistakenly during pregnancy, they will
not harm the developing fetus.
- According to the
American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology there is no scientific
data to suggest that there is an increased risk of birth defects.
- References are
found in the ACOG Practice Bulletin Clinical Management Guidelines
for Obstetricians and Gynecologist Vol#25 March 2001(#15,19,25).
- Using Emergency
Contraception pills will not affect a woman’s ability to become
pregnant in the future.
Medical follow-up after taking Emergency
Contraception pills.
- If you don’t get a
normal period within three weeks, take a pregnancy test.
- It is important to
visit your health care provider or family planning office if you
need a regular birth control method or information about preventing
sexually transmitted infections, such as HIV/AIDS.
- For more
information talk to your pharmacist, healthcare provider or family
planning office.
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