by: Kyla Horn, AAEKY Program Manager
Emergency contraception (EC) is used after sex to stop a pregnancy before it starts. EC is also commonly referred to as the “morning after pill”. However, there are more EC options than pills and you don’t have to wait until the morning after. There are four types of EC to choose from (non-hormonal IUD, ella, levonorgestrel-based pills, and the Yuzpe regimen) and they work up to 120 hours after having unprotected sex. The sooner you take it, the more effective it is.
There is so much misinformation that is spread surrounding EC that it can be hard to distinguish what is fact from what is fiction. Here are four things you should know about EC:
Myth: You can only get EC pills at a pharmacy or health center.
FACT: You can get EC from a pharmacy, but it may also be available at school or health clinics, online telehealth providers (like AfterPill, PRJKT RUBY), vending machines, gas stations, and online through retailers like Amazon and Walmart.
Myth: You have to be 17 to buy EC pills at a pharmacy.
FACT: Anyone regardless of sex, age, and gender can buy over the counter EC. You do not have to show ID to purchase EC. Ella is available by prescription only, regardless of age.
Myth: EC is the same thing as a medication abortion.
FACT: EC pills work by delaying or preventing ovulation and thickening the cervical mucus making it harder for sperm to reach the egg. EC does NOT interrupt an established pregnancy that has already implanted in the uterine lining.
Myth: Taking EC pills repeatedly will impact your future fertility.
FACT: EC pills are safe to use more than once, even in the same menstrual cycle. EC pills have no long term side effects and no impact on someone’s subsequent fertility.
Are you a young person looking for resources? Visit Bedsider.org, the world’s largest online birth control support network. Check out BCBenefits, a contraceptive access fund, to see if you’re qualified for free birth control!
If you live in Kentucky and are currently uninsured (or do not want to use your parent’s insurance), you could be eligible for:
a free virtual birth control visit with one of our telehealth partners and a free one-year supply of the birth control pill mailed directly to you
reimbursement for an in-person visit with any health provider to get the birth control method of your choice
free roundtrip ride to cover travel to and from an in-person appointment
If you live in Kentucky and are currently insured, you may qualify for:
a free roundtrip ride to cover travel to and from a birth control appointment with your healthcare provider
Are you a provider looking for resources? Get certified in One Key Question®, a patient-centered framework for healthcare providers, social service providers, and champions )to routinely ask their patients about pregnancy desires and goals and offer personalized counseling and care. Visit Bedsider Providers (sign up here for our newsletter) to stay in the know about new research, methods, and clinical perspectives.