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How Effective is Emergency
Are There Any Side-Effects?
Contraception in Preventing
Some women who take Plan B One-Step will have mild, Pregnancy?
EMERGENCY
better it will work—take it as soon as pos- sible after birth control failure or unprotected CONTRACEPTION
sex. If taken within 72 hours (3 days) after unprotected sex it will significantly reduce the a.k.a. Morning After Pill
risk of pregnancy—7 out of every 8 women If you vomit within 2 hours of taking the medication you who would have gotten pregnancy will not may need to repeat the dose with a medication to reduce nausea and vomiting. You should not take Plan B One- become pregnant. Most women will get their Step if you are allergic to levonorgestrel, or if you know next menstrual period on time or within 1 you are already pregnant (because it won’t work). week of the expected time. If your period is delayed beyond 1 week, or you have severe lower abdominal pain 3 to 5 weeks after tak- W & L Student Health Center
ing emergency contraception, you should get Nurses are available to speak with students about a pregnancy test and follow up with a health To make an appointment to see a physician call Student Health Center
Washington and Lee University
For more information about emergency contraception you can talk to go.wlu.edu/studenthealth
a health care professional, call the Emergency Contraception Hotline at 1-888-NOT-2-LATE, or go to www.not-2-late.com or www.
How Does It Work?
Emergency Contraception
levonorgestrel, a hormone found in birth The condom broke.
control pills that can work in a number of the morning after pill, is readily available and I forgot to take my birth
ways to prevent pregnancy if taken as soon as control pill.
possible (within 72 hours) after unprotected years to help reduce the chance of pregnancy intercourse. It works mainly be stopping after birth control failure or unprotected In the heat of the moment I
the release of an egg from the ovary for sex. Pills can be forgotten, condoms can forgot.
several days. It may also work by preventing break (especially if they are exposed to heat, It was my first time.
fertilization of an egg (the uniting of sperm sunlight or oil-based lubricants), alcohol can with an egg) or by preventing attachment compromise judgment about using an effective He pulled out at the last
of a fertilized egg to the lining of the uterus. method of contraception for sex, or someone minute.
Emergency contraception will not have any I didn’t want to, but thought I
unprotected sex. These are all situations had no other choice.
where emergency contraception can be taken How Do I Get Emergency
Contraception at W & L?
I told him “NO,” but he kept
going.
Plan B One-Step is available at the Student Emergency Contaception, called Plan B, is Health Center for emergency contraception— I was too drunk to think of
a back up method of preventing pregnancy, please talk to the nurse on duty if you want to protection.
and is not meant to be used routinely for birth consider taking Plan B One-Step. The nurse control, and does not protect against sexually We didn’t use protection.
will ask you a few brief questions and explain how it works, what to expect, cost, etc. What if I’m pregnant.
Plan B One-Step is also available at many pharmacies without a prescription for those ages 17 or older—you must request and sign

Source: http://www.wlu.edu/Documents/student-life/student-health/emergency-contraception.pdf