If you’ve recently had unprotected sex and don’t want to get pregnant, emergency contraception (EC) may be an option.
EC is not a primary form of birth control. But if taken as soon as possible after unprotected sex, it can be very effective in the event that your usual method of birth control fails or in any other situation where you think you might get pregnant.
What Is Emergency Contraception?
EC can prevent pregnancy. It comes in several forms:
A progestin (levonorgestrel) pill
A pill that contains ulipristal acetate
Higher than usual doses of combination oral contraceptive pills that have both estrogen and progestin
A copper IUD
Although EC does not terminate a pregnancy — defined as implantation of an embryo in the uterine lining — and is generally considered to be different than an abortion, some people still lump them together.
“They see it as an abortion pill, but it’s not,” says Keosha T. Bond, EdD, an assistant medical professor at City University of New York School of Medicine. “It prevents ovulation.”
In June 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court voted to make abortion access a state-level decision. There are concerns that lawmakers in certain states may try to ban EC as well. Some research already shows a decrease in birth control prescriptions following the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
EC Is Backup, Not Primary, Birth Control
Remember, it’s crucial to find a reliable and consistent form of birth control to minimize the potential for an unplanned pregnancy.
“You should not rely on EC pills as a long-term birth control method,” says Pari Ghodsi, MD, an obstetrician-gynecologist in Los Angeles and spokesperson for the nonprofit group Power to Decide, a campaign to prevent unplanned pregnancies. “They are a backup method, not a first-line birth control method.”
The 4 Different Types of Emergency Contraception
1. The Progestin Pill for Emergency Contraception
Also known as the “morning-after pill,” the progestin or levonorgestrel pill is often associated with its leading brand, Plan B One-Step.
Generic brands include:
Take Action
My Way
AfterPill
Preventenza
EContra EZ
Next Choice One Dose
The progestin pill is a single pill that should be taken as soon as possible after unprotected sex — within 72 hours — and the sooner you take it, the better it works.
The pill contains the hormone levonorgestrel, which is a progestin found in birth control pills and other forms of hormonal contraception that stops or delays ovulation to prevent pregnancy, says Dr. Ghodsi. Progestin is a synthetic version of progesterone, a natural hormone produced by a woman’s ovaries that plays a key role in pregnancy.
A progestin morning-after pill can lower your chance of getting pregnant by 75 to 89 percent if you take it within three days of unprotected sex. It may be less effective if your weight is over 165 pounds.
Progestin side effects aren’t very common, but your next period may come earlier or later than expected, and be heavier, lighter, or more spotty. You may also:
Get an upset stomach
Feel lightheaded or dizzy
Have tender breasts
If you vomit within two hours of taking the pill, it will not be effective and you’ll need to take it again.
How to Get the Progestin Pill: No Prescription Needed
Progestin pills are all available over the counter.
“One of the challenges is that people are unaware that you do not need a prescription to obtain emergency contraception,” says Dr. Bond. “An individual may be discouraged from requesting emergency contraception because they think you have to be female and show ID. The truth is that you don’t have to be a woman or have identification.”
The Progestin Pill: What Does It Cost?
Plan B usually costs about $40 to $50 nationwide. Generic versions usually cost about $11 to $45.
If you have health insurance, it’s likely that you can get the progestin pill for free — but you’ll need to get a prescription from your doctor or healthcare provider so that your health insurance will cover it (even though you don’t need a prescription to buy these types of pills over the counter).
You may also be able to get the morning-after pill for free or low cost from a Planned Parenthood health center, your local health department, or another family planning clinic.
The Progestin Pill: Where Can You Find It?
Progestin pills are available in the family planning aisle of many major pharmacy chains.
In cases where it’s kept locked up or behind the counter, a pharmacist “should be able to provide it for you, but you may come across some pharmacists who may try to prevent you from getting it, because a lot of people are very judgmental,” says Bond.
If a pharmacist refuses to provide you with progestin pills, ask them or another staff member if they can find another pharmacist for you to speak with.
2. Ulipristal (Ella) for Emergency Contraception
Ella is the brand name of a pill that contains ulipristal acetate, which delays or possibly prevents ovulation. Like with progestin, you just take one pill.
“When taken as directed, ulipristal is more effective in preventing pregnancy than progestin-only or combined emergency contraception pills,” Ghodsi says.
Ulipristal reduces your chances of getting pregnant by 85 percent if you take it within five days of unprotected sex.
Ulipristal works better than other EC pills for people who weigh 165 pounds or more. But if you weigh 195 pounds or more, ulipristal may not be as effective.
Like with progestin, after you take ulipristal, your next period may come earlier or later than expected, and be heavier, lighter, or more spotty. It’s not common, but you may get an upset stomach. If you vomit within two hours of taking ulipristal, it won’t be effective and you’ll need to take it again.
Where to Find It: Ulipristal Requires a Prescription
You need a prescription to get ulipristal. Talk with a healthcare professional immediately if you want to use this option — they may be able to send a prescription right to your local pharmacy.
Depending on which state you live in, you may be able to get a prescription for ulipristal directly from your pharmacist. You may even be able to order it online and have it delivered.
Ulipristal usually costs about $50 at a pharmacy or drugstore, but it might be free if you have health insurance. You may also be able to get ulipristal for free or low cost from a Planned Parenthood health center, your local health department, or another family planning clinic.
3. Combined Birth Control Pills for Emergency Contraception
If you cannot access another form of EC, regular birth control pills that contain both progestin and estrogen can be taken at higher doses to prevent pregnancy. But this is not a preferred method for pregnancy prevention.
Known as the Yuzpe method, this form of EC must be done under the supervision of a physician, as the number of pills you would take depends on the brand of birth control that you have.
Nausea and vomiting are common with high doses of birth control pills, which may affect how effective this EC method is — if vomiting occurs soon after taking it.
Combined Birth Control Pills: Where Can You Find Them?
This may be a good option if you have a prescription already and easy access to a supply. But “do not try to do this on your own,” says Ghodsi. “You need to know the specific amount to take.”
Talk with a doctor or a pharmacist about how many pills to take if you are already on this kind of birth control method and you have it on hand, because “the number of pills needed to use as emergency contraception differs for each brand of pill,” she says.
4. Copper IUD for Emergency Contraception
A nonhormonal IUD (also called the copper IUD) is a T-shaped copper-containing device. It makes sperm less likely to fertilize an egg, and can be used as a regular form of birth control or as a form of EC.
Brand names for the copper IUD are Paragard, Mirena, and Liletta. If inserted within five days of having unprotected sex, the copper IUD is highly effective, and if you weigh 165 pounds or more, the copper IUD may be a more effective EC option for you than other forms.
“The IUD is the most effective EC method in preventing pregnancy,” says Ghodsi. It can then be left in and used for long-term birth control, or removed at any time if you want to try to get pregnant.
During the first three to six months after insertion, spotting and heavy or prolonged bleeding can be common, but it should generally decrease with continued use.
Copper IUD (Paragard): Where to Find It
To use the copper IUD as EC, you’ll need to see a healthcare professional to have it inserted.
An IUD can cost up to $1,300, but it may be obtained for free or for a lower cost under many health insurance plans and some government programs. But even if an IUD costs more than other forms of EC, it may provide overall cost savings by providing effective birth control for between 8 to 12 years. Other forms of EC are only effective at the time they are used.
To get an appointment, call your doctor or health clinic as soon as possible.
Which Emergency Contraception Method Is Right for You?
Different methods are more effective depending on a few variables, such as your weight and how long it has been since you had unprotected sex.
Levonorgestrel morning-after pills, for example, may not work as well for women who weigh more than 165 pounds. You may want to speak with a physician about whether you should choose a copper IUD instead, because “copper IUDs are effective in women of any weight,” Ghodsi says.
Fighting the Stigma Around Emergency Contraception
Some people think there’s a stigma associated with using progestin or another form of EC, as if using it means you’re not being responsible, says Bond.
“That’s not the case at all,” she says. “I don’t think having access to Plan B increases a person’s nonuse of other methods. Condoms break, and Plan B may be your best bet for preventing pregnancy.”
Also, if you’re using a form of EC, “you are being responsible by taking the next step to prevent pregnancy,” adds Bond. “If you are not ready to have a baby, I think it’s a very responsible decision to use emergency contraception.”
The Takeaway
If you find yourself in a situation where you believe you could get pregnant and do not want to, emergency contraception may be an option.
There are multiple kinds of EC, including pills and IUDs. The right kind for you may depend on factors such as your weight.
Stigmas around EC may create barriers to obtaining it. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist to learn more about your options.
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Kara Smythe, MD, has been working in sexual and reproductive health for over 10 years. Dr. Smythe is a board-certified fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and her interests include improving maternal health, ensuring access to contraception, and promoting sexual health.
She graduated magna cum laude from Florida International University with a bachelor's degree in biology and earned her medical degree from St. George’s University in Grenada. She completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York. She worked in Maine for six years, where she had the privilege of caring for an underserved population.
Smythe is also passionate about the ways that public health policies shape individual health outcomes. She has a master’s degree in population health from University College London and recently completed a social science research methods master's degree at Cardiff University. She is currently working on her PhD in medical sociology. Her research examines people's experiences of accessing, using, and discontinuing long-acting reversible contraception.
When she’s not working, Smythe enjoys dancing, photography, and spending time with her family and her cat, Finnegan.
Cheryl Alkon is a longtime writer, researcher, and editor. Having experienced health issues for most of her life due to type 1 diabetes, she is fluent in medical terminology and the American healthcare system. She is the author of Balancing Pregnancy With Pre-Existing Diabetes: Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby, a guide to getting and staying pregnant with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
She graduated from Brandeis University with a bachelor's in English and American studies. She later earned a master’s from Columbia University. She lives in Massachusetts with husband David, son Ethan, and daughter Hannah.
