Emergency contraception

usually called Plan B or the morning after pill, helps prevent pregnancy after an unexpected exposure to sperm, like a broken condom or a gap in contraceptive use.

The hormones in the pill stop ovulation (when your ovaries release an egg). If you are already past the ovulation phase in your cycle (usually day 10-14 after the first day of your last period), the pill will not work. The pill must be taken within 3-5 days of the unprotected sex to stop ovulation in time.

The most common side effect is irregular bleeding. Sometimes people mistake this for a period, so it’s important to take a pregnancy test 3 weeks after taking the morning after pill to confirm that it worked.

If you know your height and weight you can find out your BMI here.

Click here for a chart comparing your options from reproductive Health Access Project

Plan B must be taken within 72 hours after the exposure, but the sooner the better. It works best for people with a BMI less than 25 (a measurement based on height and weight). You can start birth control again right away.

Ella works up to five days after sex, and is a better option than Plan B for people with a BMI over 25. However, it is not as effective for people with a BMI over 35. It can interact with hormonal birth control, so it is recommended to wait 5 days after taking it to start taking birth control again.

The IUD prevents pregnancy by 99% equally for all people who use it for emergency contraception and provides ongoing birth control. It has to be inserted within 5 days of unprotected sex. The IUD must be inserted by a trained clinician in an office setting.

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