Emergency contraceptives are methods of preventing pregnancy after unprotected sexual intercourse. They do not protect against sexually transmitted infections. Emergency contraception can be used when a condom breaks, after a sexual assault, or any time unprotected sexual intercourse occurs. Do not use emergency contraceptives as your only protection against pregnancy if you are sexually active or planning to be, because they are not as effective as any ongoing contraceptive method.
There are two types of emergency contraceptive pills. One type uses hormones that are the same type and dose as hormones used in some kinds of ordinary birth control pills. These hormones are called estrogen and progestin. About 50% of women who use this type get nauseated and 20% vomit. Use of this pill cuts the chance of pregnancy by 75%. This statement does not mean that 25% of women using ECPs will become pregnant. Rather, if 100 women had unprotected intercourse once during the second or third week of their cycle, about 8 would become pregnant; following treatment with ECPs, only 2 would become pregnant: a 75% reduction.
Some people call emergency contraceptive pills "morning after pills." But you do not have to wait until the morning after. You can start the pills right away or up to five days after you have had unprotected sex - that is, sex during which you did not use birth control or your birth control may have failed. Therapy is more effective the earlier it is initiated within the 120 hour window. Note, however, that the chance of an unwanted pregnancy increases the longer you wait before taking the pills.
Not all brands of birth control pills can be used for emergency contraception. Emergency contraceptive pills will be given to you during your visit to the California Pregnancy Center. Do not use them except under the care of Dr. Lichtenstein or one of his nurse practitioners.
Most women can safely use emergency contraceptive pills, even if they cannot use birth control pills as their regular method of birth control.
How much does the service cost?
The cost will depend on your income. Low income women may qualify for a program which will cover the cost of the visit and the pills. The cost for women who do not qualify, or who choose not to apply for the program is $40 which covers the exam, the pregnancy test, and the pills.
Is an appointment necessary?
No. Since emergency contraception is needed only in an emergency (think about this one...), no appointments are made for this service. Please come in on "the morning after" between 9-11:30 or 1-4:30 on Monday - Friday to the office and you will be seen on a walk-in basis. Keep in mind that since no appointments are made, the number of patients served is unpredictable and waiting time may be well in excess of an hour. For obvious reasons, this is especially true on Monday mornings. So please come armed with a good book and a lot of patience.
No, use of emergency contraception does not cause an abortion. In fact, emergency contraception prevents pregnancy and thereby reduces the need for induced abortion. Medical authorities such as the United States Food and Drug Administration/National Institutes of Health and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists define the beginning of pregnancy as the implantation of a fertilized egg in the lining of a woman's uterus. Implantation begins five to seven days after fertilization (and is completed several days later). Emergency contraceptives work before implantation and not after a woman is already pregnant. Depending on the time during the menstrual cycle that they are taken, ECPs may inhibit or delay ovulation, inhibit tubal transport of the egg or sperm, interfere with fertilization, or alter the endometrium (the lining of the uterus), thereby inhibiting implantation of a fertilized egg.
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