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 The Male Condom
The Female Condom
Diaphragm
Cervical cap
Contraceptive Sponge
Implants (Norplant)
Shots (Depo-Provera)
Birth Control Pills
IUDs
Emergency Contraception
Emergency Contraception
Emergency contraceptives enable pregnancy prevention after
unprotected intercourse. They do not provide any protection
from sexually transmitted diseases. There are several types of
emergency contraceptives available today, but the most popular
include emergency contraceptive pills and the copper
intrauterine device.
Emergency Contraceptive Pills
(often called "morning after pills")
There are two types of emergency contraceptive pills. One type
uses hormones similar in type and dosage to some kinds of
ordinary birth control pills. The hormones in these pills are
estrogen and progestin. For this reason, this type of
emergency contraceptive pill is termed a combined emergency
contraceptive pill. These pills cut the odds of becoming
pregnant by 75%.
The other type of emergency contraceptive pill contains only
the hormone called progestin, and is therefore termed the
progestin only emergency contraceptive pill. It is more
effective than the combined emergency contraceptive pill and
has less side effects.
Although these emergency contraception pills are often called
morning after pills, the pills can be started immediately
after unprotected sex or up to 5 days after unprotected sex.
The pills are deemed more effective if taken within 120 hours
after sex.
The Copper-T Intrauterine Device (IUD)
The IUD can be inserted up to five days after unprotected
intercourse to prevent pregnancy. The use of a copper-T IUD to
prevent pregnancy is far more effective than the emergency
contraceptive pills, reducing the risk of pregnancy by more
than 99%. The copper-T IUD can have the added benefit of being
left in place to provide continuous effective contraception
for up to ten years. IUDs, however, are not the most ideal
method of birth control for many women.
Emergency contraception can be used any time a woman has
unprotected sex but does not want to become pregnant; however,
this is not a recommended method for long term, continuous
birth control.
Visit the Reproductive Health
Online website, sponsored by Johns Hopkins University for more
information about
reproductive health and birth control methods. For
information on
teen sexuality and birth control, visit the Sex Etc.
website designed by teens for teens. |
