How to Get Emergency Contraception
Have you ever …
Then you are not alone! We all know that it is important to use protection every time we have sex, yet we are all human and we can make mistakes. Emergency contraception (EC) can help prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex or contraceptive failure. EC is made up of the same hormones as are in birth control pills, but to be effective after the fact, EC must be taken within five days (120 hours)—the sooner, the better!
Get EC Before You Need It!
The American Medical Association and the Society for Adolescent Medicine, recognizing the need to take EC quickly after unprotected sex, recently recommended that physicians provide their patients with EC before they need it. But, don't wait for your doctor to suggest EC for you. Go out and get EC before you need it! Getting EC now means you will have it available if you ever need it. A little planning now, could save you a lot of anxiety—and maybe even an unplanned pregnancy—later!
Get EC When You Need It!
Many women, including young women, are embarrassed to admit they had unprotected sex. Whether you forgot to take a few birth control pills, had a condom break or slip, were raped, or just got careless—now is not the time to beat yourself up! Time is of the essence. You need to take EC within five days of unprotected sex for it to help prevent pregnancy. So don't panic, don't delay, and don't worry about what anyone else will think of you. Just get started with the steps below to get EC quickly.
How to Get EC—Before or When you need it—in Your State
If you are age 18 or older, you are now able to get EC without a prescription in pharmacies that carry it. You will need to ask the pharmacist for EC and you have to show a government issued proof of age such as a driver's licence, passport or birth
certificate.
If you are under age 18 and you live in Alaska, California, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Mexico, or Washington state, then you live in one of the few states in the country where you can get EC without a doctor's prescription. Pharmacists working in drug stores in your state are able to provide EC without a doctor's prescription. To find a pharmacist near you that provides EC, click on the name of your state above.
If you are under age 18 and don't live in one of these states, then you need to get a doctor's prescription for EC. There is only one brand of EC on the market today in the United States—it is called Plan B®. To get a prescription for Plan B® you can:
- Call your regular doctor or nurse practitioner. Tell him/her that you'd like a prescription for Plan B® emergency contraception. He/she may provide you with a prescription over the phone or may ask you to come in for an appointment.
- Contact your student health center or a local family planning clinic. Ask if they provide emergency contraception. If you are not a patient there, they may ask you to come in for an appointment. Make the earliest appointment (make sure it is within the five day time period) and go in!
Don't have a regular doctor or know where the local family planning clinic is? Don't panic. Call a hotline to find a provider near you.
- All Planned Parenthood clinics provide confidential contraceptive services, including EC, for teens. Call 1-800-230 PLAN or visit www.teenwire.com to find the Planned Parenthood Clinic nearest you.
- Call the toll-free, confidential, 24-hour EC Hotline (1-888-NOT-2-LATE) or visit www.not-2-late.com to find a doctor or clinic near you that provides EC.
Using Birth Control Pills as EC
Finally, is all this too difficult? Are you still unable to find a clinic or doctor to help you? Well, don't forget that EC is just a high dose of regular birth control pills. If you have a package of birth control pills, or can get one, you may be able to use it as EC. But, be sure to check out the information from http://ec.princeton.edu/questions/dose.html to figure out how. Just click on the link above and you will find a list of the different brands of birth control pills and the dosage (number of pills) you will need to take for each brand to be effective as EC.
MORE INFORMATION >>
Articles & Stories >> How to Get Emergency Contraception :: Myths & Facts :: Glossary :: Bibliography :: Scrambling for Prevention
What Can I Do >> Rights. Respect. Responsibility.® Emergency Contraception Campaign
More Facts >> The Facts—EC Is a Safe & Effective Option for Teens :: Informational Pamphlet for Teens :: Issues for Health Care Providers & Educators
Related Resources >> Sexual Assault :: Local Clinics and Hotlines
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