Emergency Contraceptives

Emergency contraceptives are products that are designed to prevent or end a very early pregnancy after someone engages in unprotected sex. These types of emergency contraception must be taken as soon as possible after unprotected sex in order to maximize effectiveness. In most cases they will work best when taken within 72 hours, though the sooner you can take them the more effective they will be. If you are not sure how long it has been since you had unprotected sex or birth control failure, you will want to talk to your doctor or speak with a CVS pharmacist about your form of birth control options.

Emergency birth control is easy to take. Most brands, including Plan B and Aftera, come in tablet form and are simply taken by mouth. The sooner you take emergency contraceptives after unprotected sexual intercourse, the better they work. And remember, for emergency birth control to be effective, you must take it no more than 72 hours after having unprotected sex. Make sure to thoroughly read the package and follow the instructions carefully. Emergency contraception can be effective; about 7 out of every 8 women who would have gotten pregnant will not become pregnant after taking the Plan B pill within 72 hours of having unprotected sex.

Once you take the tablet, it helps to prevent unintended pregnancy in a number of different ways. The first method is by preventing ovulation, which ensures an egg will not travel down the fallopian tube where the sperm may still be present, so that no conception takes place. If you had already ovulated and the egg has already been fertilized, emergency contraceptives can prevent the fertilized egg from implantation after conception has taken place. It is important to note that emergency contraceptives do not provide any protection against STDs, so make sure to see your doctor if you believe you may have been exposed. Make sure to thoroughly read the package and follow the instructions carefully.

You can buy emergency contraception at CVS. You do not need a prescription or ID, and there is no minimum age for purchasing emergency birth control. It can be a good idea to keep a supply of emergency birth control pills at home. This can save you the stress of looking for a 24 hour pharmacy in your area if you have unprotected sex or a birth control failure. You can stock up online right here at CVS Pharmacy. Most orders ship free in just 1 – 2 days. Just be sure to store your emergency contraceptives in a cool, dark place and always check the expiration date before use. If you have questions or concerns about using emergency birth control, do not hesitate to talk to your doctor.

Emergency contraception, sometimes called the morning after pill, can help prevent pregnancy when taken within 72 hours of having unprotected sex or a birth control failure. Emergency contraceptives work by delaying or preventing ovulation so that conception will not occur. Plan B, a popular emergency contraceptive, contains a high dose of levonorgestrel, the same type of hormone found in many daily birth control pills. While taking the Plan B pill is generally safe, emergency contraceptives should not be used as a regular method of birth control. Additionally, you should know that emergency birth control is not an abortion pill and will not affect a pregnancy that has already begun.