Emergency Contraception

The drug levonorgestrel is marketed as Emergency Contraception, or “the morning-after pill,” under the brand names Plan B®, Plan B One-Step, and Next Choice®. This drug is a higher dose of the regular progestin-only birth control pill and works by disrupting the hormones in your body necessary to start or continue pregnancy.

The labeling on the drug advises that you take the pills soon after intercourse. The FDA indicates that it may be effective as late as five days after intercourse but is most effective if taken in the first 24 hours. It is important to know that Emergency Contraception is less effective than other forms of birth control and that no form of birth control is 100% effective in preventing pregnancy other than sexual abstinence.

The name Emergency Contraception is also somewhat misleading; if fertilization/conception has already occurred, the drug alters the lining of the uterus to decrease the chances of implantation resulting in the destruction of the fertilized egg.[1]

There are other methods that can be used to end an early pregnancy around the estimated time of implantation including the drug Ella and copper IUDs. There is no technology available at this time to determine if fertilization had already occurred.

If you are concerned that you might be pregnant or become pregnant and would like to discuss your options with a nurse and/or counselor, please contact us immediately and ask about scheduling an appointment for our pregnancy diagnostic services.