Get Emergency Contraception NOW
Under 17?
There are different age restrictions for the emergency contraceptive pills available in the United States, so it can be a bit confusing. If you are 17 years old and need emergency contraception, be sure to call the pharmacy first because you may or may not be able to buy EC without a prescription. Be prepared to show proof of age when buying emergency contraception over-the-counter.
- Plan B One-Step and Next Choice are approved for sale without prescription to women and men 17 and older. Women aged 16 and younger need a prescription.
- Plan B (the original version, which contains 2 pills instead of one) is still carried in some pharmacies but will be phased out soon. To buy this pill without prescription, you must be aged 18 or older.
If you are too young to buy emergency contraception over-the-counter, you can get a prescription to purchase emergency contraception from a pharmacy (one exception is explained below). You have two options:
Visit a clinic or doctor’s office
The clinics and medical offices listed in our directory can provide you with a prescription for emergency contraception that you can take to a pharmacy to buy the pills. Some clinics may also have emergency contraceptive pills that you can buy directly. Call ahead and ask:
- Do I need to come in for an appointment to get a prescription for emergency contraception? Some clinics will call in a prescription for emergency contraception to a local pharmacy without requiring an office visit.
- Will you notify my parents if I get a prescription for emergency contraception? While there is no national or state law requiring that clinics notify parents when their child requests birth control, some providers may have a policy of doing this. Be sure to ask if this is of concern to you.
Click here to find a clinic near you.
Ask a friend or family member for help
Any woman or man 17 or older (in the case of Plan B One-Step) or 18 or older (Plan B) can purchase emergency contraceptive pills from a pharmacy without a prescription.
Click here to find a pharmacy near you.
The exception
In some states, women of any age can get emergency contraceptives directly from some pharmacists without a prescription. This is possible because of special pharmacy regulations in these states. Even in states that allow this, not all pharmacists participate, so be sure to call ahead to see a participating pharmacist is on duty. To see if you live in a participating state, click here.