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Emergency Contraceptive Pills (ECPs)
What
are ECPs and how do they work?
ECPs,
also known as the morning after pill, are a set of birth control
pills that a woman can take after she has unprotected sex in order
to prevent pregnancy. ECPs prevent pregnancy by stopping ovulation,
fertilization, or implantation. The hormones in the pills temporarily
disrupt hormone production in the ovaries. This will delay ovulation
if it has not already occurred and will make the uterine lining
unsuitable for implantation of an egg if fertilization has occurred.
ECPs will not affect an existing pregnancy and they will not cause
an abortion. ECPs are not the same as RU-486 (Mifepristone), the
early option pill that is given to induce a medical abortion after
a woman is already pregnant.
ECPs
are given in 2 doses of hormonal pills, taken 12 hours apart. You
will be encouraged to take the first dose as soon as possible. You
will take the second dose home with you to be taken 12 hours later.
ECPs
work best when the first dose is taken within 72 hours after unprotected
sex, and have shown to be effective when taken up to 120 hours.
The effectiveness of ECPs increases the sooner they are taken. If
it is beyond 120 hours since you've had unprotected sex, call to
talk to a medical provider.
Why would I want
to use ECPs?
The choice
to use ECPs is a personal one, and your decision may be based on
the following circumstances:
- The
condom broke or slipped off
- You
forgot to take multiple birth control pills in your current cycle
- Your
diaphragm or cervical cap slipped out of place
- Your
partner didn't pull out in time or used the withdrawal method
- You
weren't using any birth control
- You
were forced to have unprotected vaginal sex
- You
were unable to remember if protection was used
How
effective are ECPs in preventing pregnancy?
There
are two types of ECPs: the combined ECP and the progestin-only ECP.
The combined ECP, such as "Preven," has a combination
of two hormones: progestin and estrogen, the same hormones that
are found in birth control pills. The combined ECPs have a 75% effectiveness
rate.
The second
type of ECPs are the progestin-only ECPs, such as "Plan B".
As the name implies, the only hormone in these pills is progestin.
Because of this, you will have a lower chance of experiencing side
effects. In addition, the progestin-only ECPs have a slightly higher
effectiveness rate than the combination pills at 89%.
ECPs
are effective if the first dose is taken within 120 hours of unprotected
sex. The sooner you take the first dose of pills the better your
chance of preventing pregnancy.
Will
I experience any side effects after taking ECPs?
The most
common side effect of the combined ECPs is nausea. Vomiting is a
less common side effect. If you vomit within the first two hours
of taking this ECP, the dose will have to be repeated. If you are
particularly prone to nausea, speak with your medical provider and
they may give you extra pills and an anti-nausea medication, like
Dramamine, along with the ECP dose in order to prevent this side
effect. Taking ECPs with food sometimes helps as well.
Besides
the nausea and vomiting, you may also experience breast tenderness,
irregular bleeding, fluid retention, dizziness, and/or headaches.
These side effects subside within a day or two after taking both
sets of pills.
When will my next
period occur?
Taking
emergency contraceptive pills may alter the timing of the your next
period. Menstrual bleeding may begin a few days earlier or a few
days later than would have been expected. If menstrual bleeding
does not begin within 3 weeks after taking ECPs, contact your medical
provider to discuss pregnancy testing or alternative reasons for
not beginning a period.
What happens if I
use ECPs more than once?
We don't
recommend that you use ECPs as a regular form of birth control because
they are not as effective as using other contraceptive methods consistently.
But it is not dangerous to take ECPs repeatedly. If you do not want
to become pregnant, you should talk with your medical provider about
a contraceptive method that would work for you.
Where and how do
I get ECPs?
ECPs are now available without a prescription for students ages 18 and over. You can go directly to Health Services Pharmacy to purchase ECPs for a cost of $31. Be sure to bring a form of ID that allows the pharmacist to verify your date of birth. On nights
and weekends, ECPs are available only for the student who is in need of the pills. You can go to Health Services or call 401.863-1330 to talk with a Nurse.
Resources
off-campus
ECPs are available at local pharmacies, health care clinics or a hospital emergency
department. Call to inquire about hours, procedure and cost at health
care facilities such as:
- Planned Parenthood Express
183 Angell Street, Providence: 401.383-4818
- Planned
Parenthood
111 Point Street, Providence: 421-9620
Check
the Providence phone book for phone numbers and addresses of other
local pharmacies or health care facilities.
If you
are away from the Providence area, or if you want more information
about ECPs:
- You
can always call 1-800-230-PLAN to find the Planned Parenthood
Health Center nearest you, or look up the nearest clinic on their
website.
- ECPs
are also available at public health centers, private doctors,
and hospital emergency rooms. You can get the name of the ECP
providers nearest you by calling the emergency contraception hotline:
1-800-NOT-2-LATE or looking them up on the website.
Can I get ECPs in
advance?
Yes! If you
are going on an extended trip or you are worried about your contraceptive
method failing, you can purchase ECPs in advance.
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