Emergency Contraception: Morning After Pill
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<h2>What is emergency contraception? </h2>

          
<p>Emergency Contraception is often referred to as "The Morning After 
            Pill," but it actually is a dosage of a few pills combined. Emergency 
            contraception is high doses of certain types of the birth control 
            pill, made up of estrogen and progestin or progestin only. Whether 
            it is Preven or Plan B , emergency contraception is provided as a 
            prescription to anyone under the age of 18. This form of birth control 
            is often used in the event of unprotected sexual intercourse, in the 
            cases of sexual assault and rape or in the event that another type 
            of birth control has failed.</p>

          
<h2>How does emergency contraception work?</h2>

          
<p> Emergency contraception works through high doses of the synthetic 
            hormones of estrogen and progestin, or progestin only, which help regulate 
            ovulation and fertility similar to the way the natural hormones works.</p>

          
<p> Emergency contraception may change the body in one or more of three 
            ways; it will vary as to which one is preventing pregnancy at any 
            given time:</p>

          
<blockquote> 
            <ul>
<li class="closebullets"> First, it prevents or reduces the probability 
                of an egg being released from the ovaries.</li>
              <li class="closebullets">Second, it thickens the cervical mucus, 
                decreasing the chance of the sperm reaching and fertilizing the 
                egg.</li>
              <li class="closebullets"> Third, it changes the lining of the uterus, 
                decreasing the probability of implantation. <a href="http://www.americanpregnancy.org/preventingpregnancy/ethicalconsiderations.html">Ethical 
                Consideration.</a>
</li>
            </ul>
</blockquote>

          
<h2> How do you use emergency contraception? </h2>

          
<p> The first dose of pills is taken as soon as possible, followed by 
            another dose 12 hours later. The manufacturers of both Preven and Plan 
            B encourage you to take the emergency contraception within 24 hours 
            for maximum effectiveness.</p>

          
<h2> How effective is emergency contraception?</h2>

          
<p> Emergency contraception decreases the possibility of pregnancy by 
            75% -89% depending on the type of medication taken. If 100 women have 
            one act of sexual intercourse during their most fertile time, approximately 25 will 
            become pregnant. Depending on the emergency contraception used, 3 
            to 6 will become pregnant. This method is most effective the earlier 
            it is taken. </p>

          
<p> Emergency contraception is not as effective as other uses of contraception 
            and should not be used as replacement of other methods.</p>

          
<h2> What are the side effects or health risks of emergency contraception?</h2>

          
<p> Emergency Contraception has side effects similar to those experienced 
            by users of oral or other hormonal types of contraception which include: 
          </p>

          
<ul>
<li class="closebullets"> Headaches</li>
            <li class="closebullets"> Dizziness </li>
            <li class="closebullets"> Vomiting</li>
            <li class="closebullets"> Nausea</li>
            <li class="closebullets"> Irregular period</li>
            <li class="closebullets"> Breast Tenderness</li>
            <li class="closebullets"> Abdominal Pain</li>
          </ul>
<p> Emergency contraception may affect your next menstrual cycle by 
            making it earlier or later, or causing blood flow to be different 
            than normal.</p>

          
<p> Emergency contraception is not recommended for women who are already 
            pregnant. You should take a pregnancy test if you are experiencing 
            any <a href="../gettingpregnant/earlypregnancysymptoms.html">pregnancy 
            symptoms</a>. Currently, there are no studies that show that any harm 
            is done to the developing fetus if this method fails.</p>

          
<h2> How much does emergency contraception cost?</h2>

          
<p> Emergency contraception is available by prescription for anyone 
            under age 18. It may be obtained from certain doctors, clinics, and 
            pharmacies; prices range from $30-$100 or more depending on if 
            an appointment is necessary.</p>

          
<h2>What about emergency contraception and sexually transmitted diseases 
            (STD's)?</h2>

          
<p> Emergency Contraception does NOT provide protection against the 
            transmission of sexually transmitted diseases.</p>