When it comes to emergency contraception, reproductive health experts say it's important that both patients and providers know the options available. It's a final safety net for many people.
Women who are able to get pregnant should have emergency contraceptives on hand. CynthiaHarper is a contraceptive researcher and professor at the University of California, San Francisco.
Some emergency contraceptive options work better for certain people. You need to know what to look for.
The term refers to contraceptives that are used after sex to prevent a baby from being born. If the condom broke or you forgot to take birth control, you might need it.
A common misconception is that it is the same as a medication abortion or abortion pills.
She explains that emergency contraception prevents a pregnant woman from getting pregnant in the first place and that a medication abortion is used to end a pregnant woman's pregnancies.
Emergency contraceptives are not harmful to a pregnant woman. Emergency contraception is often used to restrict access. The way abortion pills work is very different.
The morning-after pill is what most people think of when they think of emergency contraceptives. Two of the emergency contraceptives are pills and two are IUDs.
The most popular form of emergency contraception is over-the-counter pills containing levonorgestrel, known as Plan B, though it is also sold under other brands. It's a single-dose pill that doesn't require a prescription. The best time to use it is within 72 hours of having sex.
The brand name of the second kind of emergency contraception pill is ulipristal. Levonorgestrel shows a drop in efficacy after the third day, but research shows thatElla is still effective throughout the five-day window. Patients weighing more than 165 pounds are more effective.
The most effective form of emergency contraception is copper and hormonal IUDs, which must be inserted by a medical provider within five days of intercourse to prevent a pregnant woman. They are the most effective method of contraception. There are two types of IUDs that can be used.
The copper IUD can be used as an emergency contraceptive. Hormonal IUDs are also effective according to new evidence.
The added benefit of getting an IUD is that it can be used for emergency contraception. You have effective contraceptives once you have it in place. Depending on which one you get, IUDs can be used for up to 12 years.
Even though levonorgestrel pills like Plan B are over the counter and supposed to be stocked on store shelves, studies have found that they are often stored in locked display boxes or behind the counter. If you're looking to have it on hand just in case, this might be a better option since you'll have to wait for them to be delivered.
You need a prescription for her. They usually have to order it in the pharmacy. Many reproductive health experts advise patients to get a script from their doctor before they go. Women who need a prescription can get one from companies such as SimpleHealth.
"We really want to encourage patients and also health care providers to have this conversation all the time to make sure that people have emergency contraception on hand when they need it."
Plan B and Ella delay the release of an egg until sperm are no longer viable. Even if the egg is released, it won't combine with the sperm because IUDs work to prevent fertilization.
When used as emergency contraception, copper IUDs can cause a hostile environment that prevents them from reaching or fertilize the eggs. She believes that hormonal IUDs may disrupt how egg and sperm are transported in the body, so that they don't meet up.
If you're at the highest risk of getting pregnant because you're in the middle of your cycle, you might want to take one of the pill forms of contraception at the same time.
The quicker you use pills the better. The majority of people don't know where they are in the cycle. They don't know if it's tomorrow or the next day. If you delay taking the pills, you could miss the chance to have a baby.
It's important to place the IUD within five days after having sex.
I agree. Plan B doesn't work for patients who weigh more than 165 pounds, according to evidence. It works well in people up to 195 lbs. The clock is running for these medications to work and it can be difficult to get a prescription. IUDs are the best option for people who weigh more than 195 pounds.
A double dose of Plan B is an option if you can't get an IUD quickly. She says she would take a single or double dose if she needed emergency contraception.
There are places where women may be able to get same-day IUDs as emergency contraception.
Federal law requires that most insurance plans cover prescription contraception, including IUDs, without cost sharing for the patient.
Plan B's generics aren't usually covered by insurance because they are over the counter medicines. They retail for between 40 and 50 dollars. You might be able to get it for free from the organization. If you order in advance, you can find levonorgestrel pills cheaper online. If your doctor prescribes Plan B, insurance will cover it.
If you have health insurance or Medicaid, you may be able to get it forElla. You have to get a prescription from a doctor.
Insurance should cover IUDs if they are inserted by a trained technician. If you have to pay for an IUD out of pocket, it can be as much as a thousand dollars.
Legislators in conservative states that ban abortion will target some forms of emergency contraception in the future. The label says that levonorgestrel may interfere with the fertilization of an egg. A body of evidence now shows the drug works by stopping ovulation, and reproductive health experts are calling for the FDA to change the label. Product labels need to be in line with the evidence.
I agree. If you started to ovulate before you took the emergency contraceptives, it might be too late to prevent a pregnancy. If you're not on an effective form of birth control after the emergency pill wears off, you can still have sex if you want to. She says it's a good idea to get an IUD immediately after having sex, even if you took pills.
It is not possible to say yes. There used to be age restrictions on the pills. State laws might require parental consent for IUDs.
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