Emergency Contraception Myths and Facts
This Web page contains myths and accurate information about emergency contraception (EC). Hyperlinked (underlined) words are explained in the glossary. Sources of information are listed in the bibliography.
EC's Mechanisms of Action |
"The established mechanisms of action of both combination and progestin-only ECPs include delaying or inhibiting ovulation, disrupting follicular development, and/or interfering with the maturation of the corpus luteum. Clinical data have not verified other theorized mechanisms of action that may be involved, such as preventing implantation, altering sperm or egg transport, inhibiting the fertilization process, or changing cervical mucous."
—Position Paper of the Society for Adolescent Medicine published in the July 2004 issue of the
Journal of Adolescent Health |
Myth: There is nothing I can do after unprotected sex to prevent pregnancy.
Fact: To prevent pregnancy, you can take EC up to 120 hours (five days!) after unprotected sex. EC may still be somewhat effective even after five days. You may have heard of EC as 'the morning-after pill' or ' postcoital contraception.' EC is about 80 to 85 percent effective at preventing pregnancy (depending on the kind of EC you take, how soon you take it, and when during your cycle you had unprotected sex).
Myth: EC causes abortion.
Fact: EC does not cause abortion. EC will not affect an established pregnancy. Prominent medical associations agree that you are not pregnant until implantation—the time when a fertilized egg implants itself in the wall of your uterus. Thus, emergency contraceptive pills cannot cause abortion because they have no effect on an implanted egg (or embryo).
Then, too, the Society for Adolescent Medicine asserts that there is no evidence that EC has an effect on a fertilized egg, even before implantation. You can use EC after unprotected sex to prevent—but not to end—a pregnancy. EC pills use the same hormones as regular oral contraceptives, including progestin and, sometimes, estrogen.
By contrast, mifepristone (or RU 486), also known as the 'abortion pill,' is an entirely different medication. It contains antiprogesterone in combination with other steroidal hormones.
Myth: EC is unsafe.
Fact: EC is very safe. EC works exactly the same as do regular oral contraceptives. In fact, emergency contraceptive pills are simply oral contraceptive pills, re-packaged for use in a specific way. Oral contraceptives are among the best-studied and safest drugs available today. The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approved the Yuzpe regimen and Plan B® as safe and effective methods of emergency contraception. Plan B® currently is available in pharmacies and many family planning clinics. Some women experience mild side effects—like nausea, diarrhea, and fatigue—for a short period of time after taking EC. Even women who cannot take regular oral contraceptives for medical reasons are usually able to use EC.
EC has few contraindications:
- Like regular oral contraceptives, EC causes no increased risk of ectopic pregnancy or of birth defects.
- EC does not interact negatively with other drugs and cannot cause addiction or drug dependency.
- EC is not recommended if you are pregnant only because it will not prevent the pregnancy. EC will not harm the embryo or fetus.
- EC is not recommended if you have undiagnosed vaginal bleeding or suffer severe migraine headaches that interfere with your ability to carry on regular activities.
Myth: EC is not safe for teens.
Fact: Use of birth control pills as emergency contraception has been practiced since the 1960s. While no studies of EC have included women younger than 15, nothing suggests that EC is anything but safe; and no one has reported harmful effects on young people. In fact, prominent medical associations such as the Society for Adolescent Medicine support easier access to EC, asserting that EC is entirely safe for teenage as well as adult women.
Myth: I need a parent's permission to get EC.
Fact: You don't need your parent's permission to get EC. In fact, teens in every state have the right to obtain emergency contraception without parental consent or notification. While some private physicians' offices and health clinics may require parental consent, all Planned Parenthood clinics and most health department clinics offer confidential contraceptive services to teens.
Myth: EC can affect my future fertility.
Fact: Neither oral contraceptives nor EC affects your ability to get pregnant when you choose . EC is, in fact, regular oral contraception. After taking EC, you could have heavier or lighter bleeding, your cycle might start sooner or later than you expect, or you might see a difference in the length of your cycle. All these effects are temporary—after a month or so, your menstrual cycle should return to normal.
If your period starts more than 21 days late, think about whether you might be pregnant and get a pregnancy test. Remember, EC will not affect a pregnancy that is already established, and it will not harm you or your baby.
Myth: Using EC over and over is dangerous.
Fact: EC pills contain the same hormones as oral contraceptives and are similar to those your body produces naturally throughout life. While no one has specifically studied the effects of repeated use of EC (mostly because it occurs rarely), you can use regular oral contraceptives safely for extended periods of time without any negative effects. Your health care provider should be willing to prescribe EC for you when you need it, regardless of whether and how often you've needed it before.
Myth: If I take EC, I am protected against pregnancy until my next period.
Fact: EC will only prevent pregnancy when it is taken within 120 hours (five days) AFTER unprotected sex. If you have unprotected sex after taking EC, you are again at risk for pregnancy. Be sure you use a barrier method of protection (a latex or polyurethane male or female condom) when having sex after taking EC. When your next cycle begins, choose a form of contraception that will be best for you and your partner.
Fact: Neither EC nor regular oral contraceptives protect you against STIs, including HIV. EC and regular oral contraceptives are methods of preventing pregnancy. They offer no protection against sexually transmitted infections. To prevent STIs, you and your partner should use latex or polyurethane condoms (female or male) at every act of vaginal or anal sex; use a condom or a dental dam at every act of oral sex.
Myth: Doctors are well informed about EC and discuss it as a contraceptive option with their patients.
Fact: Few doctors know about and discuss EC with their patients. Only one in five obstetricians or gynecologists routinely discusses EC with patients. Among all health care professionals, only one in ten discusses EC. In fact, many doctors are confused about EC and some incorrectly believe that EC causes abortion. Pediatricians—responsible for serving about one in four American youth—are almost entirely unaware of or misinformed about EC. In short, your doctor may know very little about EC and may not offer it to you as an option. So, don't wait for your doctor to suggest EC for you. Go out and get EC before you need it.
Myth: Doctors and hospitals make EC available to all rape victims.
Fact: In one study, fewer than 40 percent of hospital emergency rooms provided EC to victims of sexual assault. Catholic hospitals are most likely to withhold EC information and services from rape survivors. In fact, over 80 percent of Catholic hospitals do not provide EC, even in cases of rape or incest; most will not refer a rape survivor for EC; and about one in five hospitals across the United States is Catholic. Thus, if you or a friend is raped, you may not be offered EC in your local hospital.
Myth: EC is not important for teens.
Fact: If you are having sex, you or your partner could experience pregnancy. In the United States each year, about 750,000 to 850,000 teens become pregnant; 85 percent of these pregnancies are unintended. Many teenage women become pregnant after their contraceptive failed or they had unprotected sex. Many teenage women experience sexual assault or dating violence. Surveys show that one in five women has been forced or coerced into sex, and most report that the rape occurred while they were teenagers.
Need EC?
Click here to learn how to get EC—when you need it, or better yet, before you need it!
|
Myth: EC is easily available to teens in the United States.
Fact: EC is not easily available to teens in most states. If you are age 18 or older, you can get EC without a prescription from a pharmacy that carries it. You will need 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 live in all but eight states (Alaska, California, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Mexico, or Washington state), you must first visit a health care provider to obtain a prescription for EC. Other barriers can make it unnecessarily hard to get EC. For example,
- Many health care providers require an unnecessary pelvic exam or pregnancy test before prescribing EC.
- Few insurance companies cover EC; so you may have to pay for it.
- If you need EC at night, on the weekend, or on a holiday, your health care provider may be unavailable to give you a prescription.
- Some pharmacies do not carry EC, so even if you have a prescription, you could have difficulty getting it filled.
Click here to find out how you can get EC—when you need it or, better yet, before you need it!
Myth: EC is only effective up to 72 hours after unprotected sex.
Fact: EC is effective in preventing pregnancy up to 120 hours (five days) after unprotected sex. It may still be effective for even longer than five days. Still, it is very important you begin EC as soon as possible after unprotected sex.
Myth: I can't get EC until it is an emergency.
Fact: If you are age 18 or older, you can now get EC without a prescription from a pharmacy that carries it. You will need to show a government issued proof of age such as a driver's licence, passport or birth
certificate. If you are under age 18, you can ask your health care provider for a prescription for EC at any time. Having a prescription or a supply of EC on hand before you need it helps ensure that you can take it as soon as possible after unprotected sex or contraceptive failure. When you get a prescription for EC filled, remember to check the expiration date. EC may have a short shelf life, and you shouldn't be stuck with something that is about to expire.
Myth: Making EC available will encourage people to take more sexual risks or to abandon their primary method of birth control.
Fact: Studies prove that EC users are not careless; most are on regular birth control. Among the few who haven't used birth control consistently or at all, one study showed that 90 percent subsequently decided to begin using a method of ongoing birth control. Possibly, this is because visiting a health care provider gives women an opportunity to discuss contraceptive methods. Moreover, researchers believe that the side effects of EC, such as nausea, diarrhea, and fatigue, would discourage anyone from using it on a regular basis.
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
 Send this page to a friend >>
|
