Condition Basics
What is emergency contraception?
Emergency contraception is a way to prevent pregnancy if:
- You had sex without using birth control. There is a chance that you could get pregnant even if you haven't started having periods yet or you are getting close to menopause.
- Your birth control method failed. Maybe you forgot to take your pill or get your shot. Or maybe the condom broke or came off, or your diaphragm slipped.
- You used a birth control method that isn't very reliable, or you didn't use it the right way.
- You were sexually assaulted. Even if you were using birth control, emergency contraception can help decrease your chance of getting pregnant.
Using emergency contraception right away can prevent an unwanted pregnancy. And it can keep you from worrying while you wait for your next period to start.
What are the types?
There are two main types of emergency contraception: pills and the copper intrauterine device (IUD). Pills work well, don't cost a lot, and are usually easy to get. The copper IUD works very well, but it has to be inserted by a healthcare provider.
- Pills used for emergency contraception are sometimes called "morning-after pills." They can be used up to 5 days after unprotected sex.
- The most common option contains a progestin hormone called levonorgestrel. Progestin is a synthetic version of the hormone progesterone.
- Another option is a medicine called ulipristal (for example, Ella). It affects the progesterone in your body.
- Some birth control pills are also used. These often contain a combination of the hormones estrogen and progestin. If you already take birth control pills, you may be able to use the pills you have as emergency contraception. Talk to your healthcare provider to find out the correct doses.
- A copper IUD is a small, T-shaped plastic device that is inserted into your uterus. Copper wire is wound around the stem of the IUD. It can be placed up to 7 days after unprotected sex to prevent pregnancy.footnote 1 The copper IUD can stay in place for up to 10 years. Your healthcare provider may talk to you about leaving it in for longer.
How does it work?
Emergency contraception pills work by preventing ovulation, fertilization, or implantation.
The hormones in these pills may prevent fertilization by stopping the ovary from releasing an egg (ovum). They also make the fallopian tubes less likely to move an egg toward the uterus. The pills are also thought to thin the lining of the uterus, or endometrium. The thickened endometrium is where a fertilized egg would normally implant and grow.
A copper IUD for emergency contraception may prevent fertilization or implantation.
Where can you get emergency contraception?
Where you get emergency contraception may depend on which type you use.
Emergency contraception
You can get emergency contraception without a prescription at most drugstores.
Some types of emergency contraception, such as ulipristal acetate (for example, ella) are available only from family planning clinics or with a prescription from a healthcare provider.
Birth control pills
If you already have birth control pills on hand, you may be able to use them for emergency birth control. Talk to your healthcare provider to find out the correct doses.
IUD
You can get an IUD from many healthcare providers, from university and public health clinics, and in most hospital emergency rooms. An IUD has to be inserted by a healthcare provider.
What to do if you can't find emergency contraception
Some pharmacists won't sell emergency contraception or fill prescriptions for birth control pills. If this happens to you, ask for the location of a pharmacist who will. You can also call Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights at 1-888-642-2725 or visit the website at https://www.actioncanadashr.org/resources/services to find services near you.
How you use emergency contraception depends on which type you use.
Emergency contraception
The pills come in 1-pill or 2-pill packages. Follow the directions in the package, or take them as your healthcare provider directs you to.
You can take emergency contraception up to 5 days after unprotected sex.
Birth control pills as emergency contraception
Talk to your healthcare provider to find out the correct doses. Take the dose as soon as you can. Then you take a second dose 12 hours later. The dose depends on the type of pill.
If you use birth control pills for emergency contraception, keep these things in mind:
- Birth control pills can cause nausea. Take an anti-nausea medicine such as Gravol with the first dose and again 1 hour before the second dose.
- If you vomit within 2 hours after you take the pills, call your helathcare provider for advice. You may need to repeat the dose.
- Be sure you take the active hormone pills. In a 28-day pack, the first 21 pills contain hormones. The last 7 pills (the ones you take during your period) don't contain any hormones. If you use 21-day packs, all of the pills contain hormones.
IUD
A healthcare provider inserts an IUD up to 5 days after unprotected sex.
The sooner you use emergency contraception, the more likely it is to prevent pregnancy. Overall:
- A copper IUD is the most effective form of emergency contraception. It is inserted by a healthcare provider and can almost always prevent pregnancy.
- A prescription pill with ulipristal acetate (such as ella) works better in most cases to prevent pregnancy than the pill with levonorgestrel. If you have used hormonal birth control in the last week or have been using the shot, the prescription pill may not work well for you.
- Emergency contraceptive pills may not be as effective. But they are available without a prescription at most drugstores and sexual health clinics.
If you are overweight, emergency contraception pills may not work as well to prevent a pregnancy. Talk with your healthcare provider about methods that aren't affected by your weight, such as an IUD.
Your healthcare provider may suggest that you have a pregnancy test about 3 weeks after using emergency contraception.
Emergency contraception is not a replacement for regular birth control
Unless you get an IUD, emergency contraception doesn't take the place of regular birth control. Find a good method of birth control you can use every time you have sex.
Emergency contraception pills won't protect you for the rest of your cycle. Use condoms or another barrier method of birth control until you start your period. If you usually use a hormonal method of birth control, such as birth control pills, the vaginal ring, or the patch, check with your healthcare provider about when to start using them again.
But accidents can happen. It is a good idea to keep a set of emergency contraception pills on hand in case you ever need it.
Learn more
Information about Emergency Contraception
Emergency contraception may cause some side effects.
- Emergency contraception pills may cause spotting or mild symptoms like those of birth control pills. It usually doesn't cause nausea.
- Birth control pills can cause nausea or vomiting. They can also cause sore breasts, fatigue, headache, belly pain, or dizziness.
- An IUD may cause cramping and bleeding during the first few days after it's inserted.
Call your healthcare provider if you have a headache, dizziness, or belly pain that is severe or that lasts longer than 1 week.
If you are already pregnant, most pills won't harm the fetus. But some pills, such as ulipristal, may cause problems with the pregnancy. More research is needed to know for sure. An IUD could cause problems with the pregnancy.
Citations
- Black A, et al. (2015). Canadian contraception consensus (part 1 of 4). Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada, 37(10): S1–S28. http://sogc.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/gui329Pt1CPG1510E.pdf. Accessed February 9, 2016.
- Ti AJ, et al. (2020). Effectiveness and safety of extending intrauterine device duration: A systematic review. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 223(1): 24–35.e3. DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2020.01.014. Accessed August 29, 2022.
Adaptation Date: 02/21/2023
Adapted By: Alberta Health Services
Adaptation Reviewed By: Alberta Health Services
Black A, et al. (2015). Canadian contraception consensus (part 1 of 4). Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada, 37(10): S1–S28. http://sogc.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/gui329Pt1CPG1510E.pdf. Accessed February 9, 2016.
Ti AJ, et al. (2020). Effectiveness and safety of extending intrauterine device duration: A systematic review. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 223(1): 24–35.e3. DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2020.01.014. Accessed August 29, 2022.
