- Emergency Contraception can be used to prevent an unintended pregnancy
a. When a regular form of birth control fails
b. When birth control was not used
c. When sexual assault occurs
d. All of the above
D. EC, also known as the 'morning after pill,’ or ‘Plan B®, can prevent an unintended pregnancy if taken within 3 days after unprotected intercourse.
- If taken within 72 hours, EC is effective in preventing unwanted pregnancies:
a. 98% of the time
b. 52% of the time
c. 89% of the time
d. 23% of the time
C. EC has been proven effective in preventing pregnancies up to 89% of the time when taken within 72 hours of having unprotected sex. EC can also prevent unwanted pregnancies up to 120 hours, or five days, after having sex., but is most effective in preventing pregnancy when taken immediately after having unprotected sex.
- True or False: Emergency contraception is the same thing as RU 486, the abortion pill.
False! Emergency contraception does NOT cause an abortion. Emergency contraception delays ovulation , may prevent fertilization, and may prevent an egg from becoming attached to the wall of a woman’s uterus. They contain larger doses of the same hormones as regular birth control pills that millions of young women take every day.
- True or False: If a woman takes EC while pregnant, EC will end the pregnancy or cause birth defects.
False! EC will not end an existing pregnancy or cause birth defects. Remember, EC contains the same hormones as regular birth control pills, and women’s bodies also produce these hormones naturally during pregnancy. Exposure to EC cannot threaten an existing pregnancy.
- After taking EC, short-term side effects women may experience include:
a. dehydration
b. infertility
c. nausea, diarrhea, and fatigue
C. Because EC delivers hormones to a woman’s body, some women may experience nausea, diarrhea, and fatigue after taking EC. These side-effects are similar to the discomforts that can accompany a woman’s menstrual cycle and are usually mild and short-term.
- True or False: Scientists and doctors aren’t sure if EC is safe.
False! EC contains the same ingredients as regular birth control pills. Birth control pills and EC are one of the safest and most commonly used medicines available today. In fact, in 2003 an independent panel of medical experts for the Food & Drug Administration (FDA,) an agency responsible for ensuring the safety and effectiveness of all drugs, unanimously agreed that EC is a safe medicine for women of reproductive age . Furthermore, EC is not-addictive and does not interact negatively with other drugs.
- Women need a prescription to get EC if:
a. They are aged 17 and older
b. They are under 17 years old
c. All women, regardless of age, need a prescription from a doctor to get EC
d. No women, regardless of age, can get EC
- If necessary, women can normally get prescriptions for EC at:
a. An emergency room at a local hospital
b. Their heath care provider or clinic
c. Both a and b are correct.
B. As shocking as it seems, emergency rooms are not required to dispense EC to patients, even if they are victims of sexual assault. In fact, a study of America’s 600 Catholic hospitals found that a 72% refused to provide EC to survivors of rape and incest. So although a local emergency room could provide EC, it’s not guaranteed. Health care providers, such as physicians, gynecologists, and clinics will typically provide young women with prescriptions for EC.
- True or False: Women should only get EC after they’re already had unprotected sex.
False! Since EC is most effective the sooner it is taken after unprotected sex, women are encouraged to have a supply of EC ‘on hand’ in case of emergencies. For women over 18, this means purchasing EC over-the-counter at a local pharmacy. Women under 18 can get a prescription for EC from a health care provider. Having a supply of EC on hand can save valuable hours and decrease the chance of pregnancy after unprotected sex.
- True or False: EC can protect women from sexually-transmitted-diseases, or STIs.
False! Although EC is effective at preventing pregnancy if taken in a timely manner, EC CANNOT prevent individuals from contracting or spreading STIs, including HIV/AIDS. Individuals and their partners must use condoms at every act of vaginal, oral, or anal sex to be protected from STIs.
- When used correctly, medical experts believe that EC could prevent:
a. 25% of unplanned pregnancies
b. 45% of unplanned pregnancies
c. 50% of unplanned pregnancies
d. 80% of unplanned pregnancies
C. Experts believe that the appropriate use of EC could prevent up to 50%, or one-half, of the millions of unintended pregnancies American women face each year.
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