Let’s be honest: it’s hard to use birth control perfectly 100% of the time. Sometimes condoms break, or you forget to take your pill, or you get caught up in the moment and don’t properly protect yourself. While it’s good to always be careful, it’s also good to be prepared in case you have a birth control mishap.
Emergency contraception is a way of preventing pregnancy after unprotected sex. Also sometimes called “the morning-after pill”, it works for up to 5 days (120 hours) after unprotected sex. However, it is the most effective the sooner you take it. It works by preventing ovulation, and also prevents the sperm from ever reaching the egg.
It is great to have emergency contraception in your bedside table or drawer, just in case you might need it in the future. You should never plan on needing or using EC, but having it on hand if you do need it will make a sticky situation a lot less stressful. If you are 17 and over, you can get EC at any drugstore pharmacy, although it will be more expensive than if you got the EC or the prescription for EC directly from your nearby family planning clinic. If you’re under 17, you must have a prescription from your health care provider. Next time you’re getting an STD test or a birth control refill, just ask your provider or pharmacist for a pack of EC as well!
While emergency contraception is good for emergencies, it should not be used as a form of regular birth control. If you keep finding yourself needing EC, it might be worth looking into getting a different type of birth control. Check out all of your birth control options here.