Emergency contraception

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Birth control methods

Hormone-based contraceptives

Intrauterine device

Side sectional view of female reproductive system

Emergency contraception is available over-the-counter for women age 18 and older.

Emergency contraception pills prevent about 75 - 89% of pregnancies that occur after unprotected sexual intercourse. Emergency contraception by IUD insertion is even more effective.

SIDE EFFECTS

Mild and often unpleasant side effects from emergency contraception medications may include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, fatigue, headache, and changes in menstrual bleeding. Nausea and vomiting are the most common. Nausea occurs about 50% of the time and vomiting about 20% of the time after emergency contraceptive pills are taken.

Some doctors recommend taking an anti-emetic medication (a drug to prevent nausea and vomiting) before taking the emergency contraception pills to prevent such side effects. Progesterone-only emergency contraceptives cause less nausea and vomiting than pills that contain both progesterone and estrogen-like medications.

After taking emergency contraception, a woman's next menstrual cycle may start earlier or later than expected and the menstrual flow may be lighter or heavier than usual. Most women will start their next period within 7 days of the expected date. If a woman's menstrual bleeding does not start within 3 weeks after taking emergency contraception, she might be pregnant and should call or visit her health care provider.

IUD placement has risks of pelvic infection and uterine injury, although these are quite rare. Long-term use of an IUD for birth control may cause side effects, such as heavy menstrual bleeding and painful menstrual cramps.

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS

Women who believe that they are already pregnant and may have been for longer than several days should not take emergency contraception medications, since their effects have not been well studied. Also, women who have vaginal bleeding for an unknown reason should discuss this with their health care provider before taking emergency contraception.

Women who cannot take birth control pills regularly in most cases may still be able to use emergency contraceptives, but they should also discuss this option with their health care provider.

If emergency contraception fails and the woman becomes pregnant, there do not appear to be any long-term effects on the pregnancy or the fetus.

Emergency contraception should not be used as a routine birth control method, because it is actually less effective at preventing pregnancies than most types of birth control.

Review Date: 09/19/2006
Reviewed By: Audra Robertson, MD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.