Emergency Contraception

What is Emergency Contraception (EC)?
Emergency contraception is a safe and effective, FDA-approved, method of preventing pregnancy after unprotected sex. Although regular use of birth control is the best way to prevent unintended pregnancy, there are times when you need a back-up method, for example when regular birth control fails or is not used.

Plan B® is the only dedicated emergency contraception product available in the US. Plan B® is sold in pharmacies over-the-counter (OTC) or by prescription depending on your age (see How to get Plan B® in New York). Certain regular birth control pills can also be used for emergency contraception taken in specific doses. To find out pills and doses click here.

Important facts about EC:

• EC contains a higher dose of ingredients found in regular birth control pills.
• EC is time-sensitive. The sooner it is taken after unprotected sex, the more effective it is. Even though it is sometimes called "the morning-after pill," you can take EC up to five days (120 hours) after unprotected sex and still reduce your chances of becoming pregnant.
• EC does not prevent HIV or other sexually transmitted infections.
• EC does not affect your future fertility, even if you take it more than once.
• EC will not affect an established pregnancy. It is not an abortion pill or RU-486. It will not work if you are already pregnant from a previous sexual encounter and it will not harm a developing fetus.

How to get Plan B in New York:

• Plan B® is sold over-the-counter in pharmacies to women and men who are18 years or older and proof of age is required. Women 17 and under need a prescription to purchase Plan B®.
  
• All hospital emergency rooms are required to offer EC to victims of sexual assault.
  
• Plan B®, sold by prescription or over-the-counter, is covered by Medicaid. Women who have Medicaid can get 6 packages of Plan B per year at no cost.
• Plan B® is offered free or at low cost at many Planned Parenthood health centers and it is free at New York City Health Department STD clinics. Type your zip code into the "Find a Family Planning Center " box to your left to locate a family planning center near you. If you are 17 or younger and you do not know a health care provider who will write a prescription, you can call your local Planned Parenthood or 1-888-not-2-late.

What are we doing to increase EC awareness and access?
Emergency contraception can play a significant role in preventing unintended pregnancy and abortion. Public awareness of EC has increased in recent years. However, more must be done to ensure that women are able to get it quickly and without facing barriers.

The following are ways FPA and the Ed Fund have been working to improve women's awareness of and access to emergency contraception:

• Improving availability of EC in hospital emergency rooms. See the EC in the ER Toolkit: Preventing Pregnancy from Sexual Assault: Four Action Strategies to Improve Hospital Policies on Provision of Emergency Contraception.
• Improving availability of EC in pharmacies by: 1) advocating for a state law that would permit pharmacies to directly dispense EC without requiring a prescription; 2) working with pharmacy and other partner organizations to ensure the smooth implementation of Plan B® over-the-counter; and 3) by joining with groups that advocate changing the status of Plan B® to a readily available, OTC product for all women.
• Improving financial access by ensuring that Medicaid covers both prescription and OTC Plan B®.

Can we help you improve access to EC in your community? Contact us.