What if?

• A condom broke or slipped
• You didn't use any birth control
• You had sex when you didn't expect to?
• You were forced to have sex?
• You forgot to take your pills?

 Timing is everything!

Emergency Contraception is available to any women who has had an episode of unprotected intercourse, method failure or sexual assault up to 5 days from intercourse.  Emergency Contraception should be taken as soon after sex as possible to prevent an unintended pregnancy.  Emergency Contraception is a method of preventing pregnancy- it does not protect against sexually transmitted infections.

Facts about Emergency Contraceptive Pills

What are they?

Emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs) are available through a Family Planning Clinic or a doctor. They are two progesterone (hormone) tablets which should be taken as soon as possible after unprotected sex and must be taken within five days of unprotected sex or may not work.

How do they work?

ECPs give you body a sudden dose of hormones. This changes the hormone levels that are necessary for pregnancy to happen. After several days your hormones return to normal levels.

What are the side effects?

No serious health problems have been reported. Some women using ECPs experience nausea or vomiting. You may have headaches, breast tenderness, dizziness or fluid retention.

What are the benefits?

For most women ECPs are a simple, safe way to lower the chances of getting pregnant after unprotected sex. ECPs are not 100% effective. You can still get pregnant using them. If you are already pregnant, ECPs will not cause an abortion.

You should talk with you clinician BEFORE using ECPs if:

• You think you may be pregnant
• You are allergic to progesterone

Planning for the future

You should talk with your nurse or doctor about getting on a regular method of birth control. ECPs are only for emergencies.

Who will know?

All services at the Family Planning Clinic are confidential. Everything we talk about and do is private between you and the nurse.