You might even be traveling in a place where EC is hard to get or fear pharmacists' judgment of your situation. In any case, there's some good news: Taking extra birth control pills can indeed count as emergency contraception if you're in dire straits, but there are a few things you should know before trying this out.
One of the top methods is Ella, a morning after pill you can take up to five days after unprotected sex. It uses a medicine called ulipristal acetate to prevent ovulation by blocking your body's production of the hormone progesterone, according to Planned Parenthood. Ella is more effective than other morning after pills because its efficiency doesn't decline the longer you wait to take it the way it does with Plan B and its ilk. But there are two catches. First, you need a prescription.
Plan B and other morning after pills besides Ella contain levonorgestrel, a synthetic progesterone-like hormone, and they can also stop ovulation or make it harder for a fertilized egg to implant. Better yet, they're available over the counter, so no prescription necessary. But since they work best in the first 72 hours after unprotected sex, they're not successful as Ella.
ParaGard, the copper IUD , is actually the most effective form of emergency contraception out there. When inserted within five days after unprotected sex, it reduces the risk of pregnancy by 99 percent compared to the morning after pills' up to 95 percent, according to Planned Parenthood. It works by releasing copper, which creates an inflammatory response in the uterus that makes it toxic to sperm, according to Mayo Clinic. But depending on your insurance, it may cost hundreds of dollars, plus it's a way bigger commitment than pills.
But if that kind of commitment actually appeals to you and you're able to get an appointment ASAP, this can be a great option. Otherwise, morning after pills might make more sense. They basically do the same jobs, but emergency contraception has amped up levels of hormones to prevent pregnancy in a pinch. You have successfully subscribed to our newsletter. Q: Is it true that you can double up on birth control pills instead of buying the morning-after pill as a form of emergency contraception?
Related Articles. Trending Topics. What Parents Need to Know. Share this article via email with one or more people using the form below. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information and to understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your e-mail and website usage information with other information we have about you.
If we combine this information with your PHI, we will treat all of that information as PHI, and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of e-mail communications at any time by clicking on the Unsubscribe link in the e-mail.
Our Housecall e-newsletter will keep you up-to-date on the latest health information. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.
Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. Any use of this site constitutes your agreement to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy linked below. This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here.
This content does not have an English version.
0コメント