Over-the-counter birth control

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EMERGENCY ("MORNING AFTER") BIRTH CONTROL

• The "morning after" pill consists of two doses of hormone pills taken as soon as possible within 72 hours after unprotected intercourse.
• The pill may prevent pregnancy by temporarily blocking eggs from being released, by stopping fertilization, or keeping a fertilized egg from becoming implanted in the uterus.
• Emergencies include being raped; having a condom break or slip off during sex; missing two or more birth control pills during a monthly cycle; and having unplanned sex.
• As of May 2004 it requires a prescription. Call your provider for more information about morning after birth control.
• Emergency contraception reduces the chance of pregnancy by 75 to 95%. It is most effective when used in the first 24 hours.

Although over-the-counter methods are not quite as effective against pregnancy as some prescription methods, they are more effective against STDs than any other method except abstinence. They offer people ways to protect themselves against pregnancies and STDs without having to spend a lot of money, wait for a doctor's appointment, or deal with long-term side effects.

For a more complete description of birth control options, see birth control and family planning.

Review Date: 05/15/2006
Reviewed By: Audra Robertson, MD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network