Answers to Frequently Asked Questions About...
How to Use Emergency Contraception
How long do I have after sex to take emergency contraceptive pills?
If you have sex without
using other contraception, your regular birth control fails, or you
are made to have sex against your will, take
action right away to learn what your options are. Even though emergency contraception
is often called the “morning
after pill” or “day after pill,” it may be effective for up to 5 days (120 hours) after unprotected sex.
In the United States, there are two different kinds of emergency contraceptive pills available: ulipristal acetate (ella) and progestin-only (Plan B One-Step, Next Choice One Dose, Next Choice and Levonorgestrel Tablets).
ella is a prescription-only product. It is more effective than progestin-only EC, particularly on the 5th day after sex. ella is more likely to work when taken closer to ovulation than progestin-only pills; this is important because women have the highest chance of getting pregnant, and are most likely to be having sex, immediately before the egg is released. In clinical studies, the effectiveness of ella did not decline over a 5-day period; however, what's important for each individual woman is where is you are in your menstrual cycle (how close you are to ovulation). If you are close to ovulation, EC may not be able to prevent pregnancy if you wait 5 days. Therefore, the best thing to do is take EC as soon as you can get it.
Plan B One-Step, Next Choice One Dose, Next Choice and Levonorgestrel Tablets can be purchased directly from the pharmacist by women and men aged 17 or older. Both contain the same total amount of progestin (1.5 mg). Plan B One-Step and Next Choice One Dose are just one pill that you take as soon as possible after sex. The instructions for Next Choice and Levonorgestrel Tablets (which contain 2 pills) say to take the first dose within 72 hours after sex and a second dose 12 hours later (however, studies show that you can take both pills at the same time). Studies show that progestin-only EC may be effective only through 4 days after sex.
Click here for more detailed instructions for using daily birth control pills as emergency contraception.
It may take time to get a prescription and fill it, or find a pharmacy that carries EC, so call your health care provider or pharmacy as soon as possible after unprotected sex. For these reasons, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists – the leading professional association of doctors who specialize in women’s health – recommends getting emergency contraceptive pills before they are needed.
A thorough and up-to-date academic review of the medical and social
science literature on emergency contraception, including research
showing that emergency contraceptive pills can be used up to 120 hours
after sex, is available; click
here 
.
To find health care providers, including pharmacists, who offer
emergency contraception in your area, click
here.