Emergency contraception available for morning after
By Daily Bruin Staff
April 14, 2003 9:00 p.m.
The condom breaks. The diaphragm slips. You have sex without
taking the pill. Accidents happen.
Everybody knows unprotected sexual intercourse can lead to an
unwanted pregnancy, but not everybody knows there’s still a
way to decrease the chances of getting pregnant after unprotected
sex.
Emergency contraception, or the so-called “morning-after
pill,” is a safe way to prevent pregnancy after having
unprotected sex.
If taken within three days, EC can reduce the chances of getting
pregnant by 75-89 percent.
Although EC is more effective when taken shortly after sex,
evidence suggests it can even prevent pregnancy up to five days
after intercourse.
EC pills contain the same hormones ““ estrogen and
progesterone ““ as regular birth control pills but in higher
doses. These higher hormone levels can inhibit the initiation of
pregnancy in several different ways.
EC is designed to prevent contraception in one of the following
ways: by preventing the ovaries from releasing an egg, by stopping
fertilization of an egg by sperm, or by blocking a fertilized egg
from completing uterine implantation.
It should be noted that EC is not the same as the
medical-abortion pill, RU-486 or Mifepristone (also known as
Mifiprex). Mifepristone pills are used to stop gestation in the
first nine weeks of pregnancy. EC prevents the start of pregnancy
instead of ending an existing pregnancy.
Although EC may be the best option in a crisis, it is important
to recognize it is not recommended as a routine birth control
method.
And, if you still miss your next period after taking EC, be sure
to take a pregnancy test.
There are no reported long-term adverse effects from using EC,
but it can cause some undesirable side effects such as nausea,
abdominal pain, fatigue, headaches, dizziness, and in some cases,
vomiting.
It is also possible that your period will come earlier or later
after taking EC.
EC is more expensive and less effective at preventing pregnancy
than other methods of birth control like the pill, condoms and Depo
shots. It offers zero protection against sexually transmitted
infections, including HIV. Thus, EC should be reserved only for
emergencies.
Two FDA-approved emergency contraception products are available
in the United States: Preven (containing both estrogen and
progesterone) and Plan B (containing progestin only), which is more
effective and causes fewer side effects than both hormones
together.
In most states in the U.S., EC is a prescription medication.
This used to be the case in California, but in 2002, a new law took
effect which permitted any pharmacist in California to dispense EC
without a prescription, if he or she follows an agreement set by a
physician and is certified as an EC provider.
California law also allows minors to receive confidential family
planning services, including EC, without consent from a parent;
this means women can get EC even if they are under 18 years
old.
The cost of EC depends on how it is obtained. With a
doctor’s prescription, EC is covered by most health insurance
plans. Direct from a pharmacy, EC runs about $25 (which may be
covered by insurance), plus an additional “assessment
fee” of $15-$20 which is not covered.
The Ashe Center at UCLA offers EC by prescription only.
A pharmacy can only provide this service when EC-certified staff
are on duty, so call ahead to avoid a wasted trip.
Planned Parenthood is available 24 hours a day (1-800-967-PLAN),
and a nurse can do a screening over the phone and call in a
prescription to a local pharmacy.
Even better, ask a doctor for an advanced prescription, so EC
will be in the medicine cabinet should you ever need it.
“Your Health” is a weekly column written by a
rotating group of UCLA medical students. The columns cover health
issues concerning students. To read previous health columns, visit
dailybruin.com and click on “Your Health.”
