Morning-after pill

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How you prepare

By Mayo Clinic staff

For maximum effectiveness, emergency contraception should be started as soon as possible after unprotected intercourse, and within 120 hours. You can take emergency contraceptive pills anytime during your menstrual cycle.

If you're age 17 or older, Plan B One-Step and Next Choice are available over-the-counter at most pharmacies. If you're age 16 or younger or you want to use Ella, you'll need a prescription from your health care provider. Some health care providers may provide an advance prescription for emergency contraception, just in case.

Remember to talk to your health care provider about any other medications you're taking.

What you can expect Risks
References
  1. Ella (prescribing information). Parsippany, N.J.: Watson Pharma Inc.; 2012. http://pi.watson.com/data_stream.asp?product_group=1699&p=pi&language=E. Accessed May 7, 2012.
  2. Plan B One-Step (prescribing information). Pomona, N.Y.: Duramed Pharmaceuticals Inc.; 2009. http://planbonestep.com/plan-b-prescribers/index.aspx. Accessed March 7, 2012.
  3. Next Choice (prescribing information). Corona, Calif.: Watson Laboratories Inc.; 2009. http://mynextchoice.com/pi.asp. Accessed March 7, 2012.
  4. Zieman M. Emergency contraception. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed March 7, 2012.
  5. 5. Hatcher RA, et al. Contraceptive Technology. 20th ed. New York, N.Y.: Ardent Media; 2011:113.
  6. Emergency contraception. American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. http://www.acog.org/For_Patients. Accessed March 7, 2012.
  7. Spitz IM. Mifepristone for the medical termination of pregnancy. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed March 7, 2012.
  8. Noe G, et al. Contraceptive efficacy of emergency contraception with levonorgestrel given before or after ovulation. Contraception. 2010;81:414.
  9. Noe G, et al. Contraceptive efficacy of emergency contraception with levonorgestrel given before or after ovulation. Contraception. 2011;84:486.
  10. Gemzell-Danielsson K. Mechanism of action of emergency contraception. Contraception. 2010;82:404.
  11. Prabakar I, et al. Emergency contraception. BMJ. 2012;344:e1492.
  12. FDA approves Plan B One-Step emergency contraceptive without a prescription for women 15 years of age and older. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm350230.htm. Accessed May 1, 2013.
MY01190 May 25, 2012

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