When is emergency contraceptive most effective

An IUD used for emergency contraception needs to be placed by a doctor or nurse practitioner. This can be done at a doctor's office or a health clinic, like Planned Parenthood. Many health insurance plans cover the cost of emergency contraception and family planning clinics such as Planned Parenthood charge much less. Reviewed by: Larissa Hirsch, MD.

Larger text size Large text size Regular text size. What Is Emergency Contraception? How Does Emergency Contraception Work? ECPs can cause some minor side effects for a few days, including: nausea vomiting breast tenderness headaches These usually are minor, and most improve within 1 to 2 days. A health care professional must insert the IUD. You can call your ob-gyn or other health care professional or go to a family planning clinic to have the IUD inserted.

With the copper IUD, menstrual pain and bleeding may increase in the first few months of use. Pain can be relieved with over-the-counter pain relievers.

Heavy bleeding sometimes can be treated with a medication. Both side effects usually decrease within 1 year of using the copper IUD. Ulipristal—This medication affects how progesterone works in the body. It is thought to delay or prevent ovulation. It can be taken up to 5 days after unprotected sex with no decrease in effectiveness. When taken as directed, ulipristal is more effective in preventing pregnancy than progestin-only or combined EC pills. Ulipristal is available by prescription only.

Progestin-only EC—This is a single pill that should be taken as soon as possible after having unprotected sex. Progestin is a hormone in birth control pills and other forms of hormonal birth control.

It stops or delays ovulation to prevent pregnancy. It is most effective when taken within 3 days of unprotected sex. It is moderately effective when taken within 5 days. This pill is available without a prescription to anyone of any age. It can be found on store shelves, usually in the family planning section.

Combined birth control pills—Birth control pills that contain both estrogen and progestin are called combined hormonal birth control pills. Taken in higher-than-usual amounts, they can be used for EC. You need to take combined EC pills as soon as possible up to 5 days after having unprotected sex. They work by delaying ovulation. They are taken in two doses. The number of pills needed for EC differs for each brand of pill. An ob-gyn, other health care professional, or pharmacist can tell you how many pills you should take for the type that you have.

You also can find this information at the website www. The emergency contraceptive pill should be taken as soon as possible after unprotected sex. The emergency contraceptive pill can be taken up to four or five days after unprotected sex, depending on the type of pill you take. Speak to a doctor, nurse or pharmacist for further information. The copper IUD works by making it difficult for a fertilised egg to stick to the lining of the womb to start a pregnancy.

The emergency contraceptive pill prevents or delays the ovaries releasing an egg. If you have unprotected sex again you may need another dose. You can buy emergency contraceptive pills at a pharmacy without a prescription. The pharmacist will recommend the best type of emergency contraception pill depending on:. Be sure to ask the pharmacist about whether the emergency contraceptive pill is a suitable option for you. After a copper IUD has been put in, you may have a few weeks of irregular bleeding between periods.

After this time, your periods may be heavier and more painful. As it does not contain hormones, there are no hormonal side effects from using the copper IUD.

Emergency contraceptive pills can change the amount of bleeding for your next period. They may also make your period late or earlier, or it may come as you normally expect. If your period is more than seven days late, lighter than usual or unusual in any other way, take a pregnancy test as soon as you can. There is a small risk of infection at the time the copper IUD is put in and for the first three weeks after it has been inserted. There is also a small risk of perforation, which is when the IUD makes a hole in the wall of the uterus when it is put in.

There are no known serious risks from taking emergency contraceptive pills. However, the pharmacist will recommend the best type of emergency contraception pill depending on your circumstances. Check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist about whether the emergency contraceptive pill is a suitable option for you.

The recommended dose of ulipristal acetate is unchanged. The copper IUD is a very effective method of emergency contraception for all women, regardless of their weight. The copper IUD can remain in place and will provide very effective ongoing contraception for up to 10 years. The pill, implant, vaginal ring and injection can be started immediately after taking the levonorgestrel emergency contraceptive pill.

These methods of contraception can make ulipristal acetate less effective at preventing pregnancy, therefore they cannot be started until five days after taking ulipristal acetate emergency contraception. Levonelle has to be taken within 72 hours 3 days of sex. Both pills work by preventing or delaying ovulation release of an egg.

Emergency contraception is best taken as soon as possible to be effective. The IUD can be inserted into your uterus up to 5 days after unprotected sex, or up to 5 days after the earliest time you could have ovulated.

It may stop an egg from being fertilised or implanting in your womb. Return to Symptoms. Next Review Date:. Emergency contraception is effective at preventing pregnancy if it's used soon after unprotected sex. Levonelle or ellaOne can make you feel sick, dizzy or tired, or give you a headache, tender breasts or abdominal pain. If you use the IUD as emergency contraception, it can be left in as your regular contraceptive method. If you use the IUD as a regular method of contraception, it can make your periods longer, heavier or more painful.

Sudden or unusual pain in your lower abdomen stomach could be a sign of an ectopic pregnancy. This is rare but serious, and needs immediate medical attention. Levonelle contains levonorgestrel, a synthetic version of the natural hormone progesterone. It does not interfere with your regular method of contraception. It prevents pregnancy mainly by preventing or delaying ovulation. Levonelle and ellaOne do not continue to protect you against pregnancy. This means that if you have unprotected sex at any time after taking the emergency pill you can become pregnant.

Even if you're starting or continuing another method of hormonal contraception, it may not be effective immediately. You'll need to use condoms or avoid sex until the contraception is working effectively. Your doctor or nurse will tell you when you can start hormonal contraception and how long you'll need to take extra precautions to prevent pregnancy.

Levonelle and ellaOne are not intended to be used as a regular form of contraception. However, you can use emergency contraception more than once in a menstrual cycle if necessary. After taking the emergency contraceptive pill, most women will have a normal period at the expected time.

But you may have your period later or earlier than normal. If your period is more than 7 days late, or is unusually light or short, contact your GP as soon as possible to check for pregnancy. Most women can use the emergency contraceptive pill. This includes women who cannot usually use hormonal contraception, such as the combined pill and contraceptive patch.