Emergency contraception helps prevent pregnancy if you’ve had unprotected sex or are not sure if you’re protected from pregnancy. You can use EC to help prevent pregnancy if a condom broke or leaked, no birth control was used, a regular method of birth control wasn’t used correctly or there was a sexual assault. EC should be used as soon as possible after unprotected sex.
There are two types of EC:
Copper IUD
- a small soft t-shaped device with a copper wire wrapped around it
- can be put into the uterus by a health care provider up to 7 days after unprotected sex
- can be left in as a regular form of birth control for 5-10 years
- reduces the risk of pregnancy after unprotected sex by 99%
Emergency Contraception Pills
- two types (levonorgestrel and ulipristal acetate).
- can be used up to 5 days (120 hours) after unprotected sex.
EC doesn’t protect you from STIs or HIV. Although repeat use of emergency contraception pills is safe, they should not replace a regular method of birth control as they do not work as well and can have more side effects.