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- EC is an FDA approved contraceptive for use after sexual intercourse, when contraceptives have failed, or when no contraceptives were used.
- EC is 75 – 89% effective in preventing pregnancy when taken within 72 hours after unprotected sex. It can taken up to 5 days after unprotected sex, but the sooner you take it, the better it works.
- Plan B is the brand-name for EC in the US. It contains the same hormones found in birth control pills.
- The label for Plan B says that you should take the first pill as soon as possible after unprotected sex and the second pill 12 hours later. Recent research has found that you can take both Plan B pills at the same time.
- EC is not the same thing as mifepristone, (RU-486) or the "abortion-pill,” which terminates an early pregnancy.
- If a woman takes EC during pregnancy, it will not harm the developing fetus or cause an abortion.
- If you are 18 or older, you can get EC at most drug stores without a prescription. If you are under 18, talk to your health care provider or click here to find a trained pharmacist who can sell you EC.
- For more information on where to get EC, click here.
- For more information on EC, click on Key Facts for Women and Their Partners or Frequently Asked Questions.
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