Get Emergency Contraception NOW
Under 17?
*Click here for our EC page for teens*
There are different regulations on how to purchase the different emergency contraceptive pills available in the United States, so it can be a bit confusing. Always call the pharmacy first to find out which brands of EC are in stock.
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Plan B One-Step, Next Choice One Dose, Next Choice and Levonorgestrel Tablets 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 is being phased out.
- ella is sold by prescription only, regardless of age. You can also order ella through an online prescription service for $40, including next-day shipping.
If you are too young to buy Plan B One-Step, Next Choice One Dose, Next Choice or Levonorgestrel Tablets over-the-counter, or if you want to use ella, you can get a prescription to purchase emergency contraception from a pharmacy (one exception* is explained below). You have three 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 can buy Plan B One-Step, Next Choice One Dose, Next Choice or Levonorgestrel pills from a pharmacy without a prescription. Click here to find a pharmacy near you.
Use the online pharmacy to purchase ella
If you would like to order ella online, click here. You will have to answer a few questions to be sure that you are eligible to use ella, and then once you're approved, it will be shipped right to you. The cost, including next-day shipping, is $40.
*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, and not all agreements include ella, so be sure to call ahead. To see if you live in a participating state, click here.