Emergency Birth Control - the Emergency Contraception and Morning After Pill Information Site

No. EBC pills will NOT cause an abortion. A woman does not become pregnant immediately after having unprotected sex. After having sex, the biological process of becoming pregnant can take several days. EBC pills work exactly the same way as regular birth control pills: they interrupt the biological process and prevent a woman from becoming pregnant at all. Just like regular birth control pills, EBC pills can't cause an abortion after a woman becomes pregnant. Instead, they prevent her from becoming pregnant in the first place.

For more detailed information on the biological process of becoming pregnant, and how birth control and EBC pills interrupt the process to prevent pregnancy, see the How does emergency birth control work? FAQ or the How EBC Works page.

No. RU-486 is the abortion pill that was first used in France and that has recently been approved by the FDA for use in the United States. EBC pills prevent a woman from becoming pregnant up to 3 days after having sex, but they cannot cause her to have an abortion any time after she has actually become pregnant.

RU-486 is a drug called mifepristone that is designed to abort pregnancy during the first trimester. Mifepristone is a steroid abortifacient drug that blocks the hormone progesterone and thereby ends the viability of the fetus. Mifepristone is typically followed 48 hours later by an injection of prostaglandin to induce contractions of the uterus that expel the fetus.

A major benefit of emergency birth control is that it can reduce the number of abortions that occur as a result of unwanted pregnancy. It does so by preventing women from becoming pregnant in the first place after they have had unprotected sex. With widespread awareness and accessibility, EBC pills could prevent as many as 1.7 million unintended pregnancies and 800,000 abortions each year in the United States.

The so-called Morning After Pill is one name for EBC pills, but it is misleading because EBC pills can be taken up to 3 days after having unprotected sex. There's no need to wait 3 days, however. The sooner after EBC pills are taken after unprotected sex, the more effective they are.

Our organization is trying to clear up some of the confusion by encouraging people to use the term 'emergency birth control' instead of the 'Morning After Pill'.

No. The medical research shows that it is not possible to terminate a pregnancy with either regular birth control or emergency birth control medication. The research also shows that taking birth control medication is not likely to have any negative affect upon a developing fetus (Van Look & Stewart, 1998). Nevertheless, we strongly encourage women to be careful and not take any kind of medication when they are pregnant without specific instructions from their doctor.

For more information, see the If I use emergency birth control and I still become pregnant, will my baby be healthy? FAQ.

You should consider using emergency birth control any time you have had sex without using another reliable form of birth control. It is a mistake to have unprotected sex, but it is an even bigger mistake not to do anything about it while you still have options.

EBC pills can prevent pregnancy up to 3 days after having sex, although the sooner you take them the more effective they will be. And emergency birth control using an IUD (intrauterine device) can be effective up to five days after having unprotected sex. Here is a list of situations when you should strongly consider using emergency birth control to prevent unwanted pregnancy:

· You've had sex without any kind of protection.
· You've had unprotected sex and he 'pulled out'.
· You've had sex with a condom and the condom broke.
· You've had sex just before your period and you're late.
· You've been raped.

If you are already taking regular birth control and forgot to take one of your pills, you should contact your doctor or call Planned Parenthood at 1-800-230-PLAN for more information and instructions.

Remember, you can become pregnant any time during your menstrual cycle. Your chances of becoming pregnant are highest during ovulation, but you can even become pregnant if you have sex while you are still bleeding. There is no such thing as a 'safe' time during your menstrual cycle to have unprotected sex. Any time you have unprotected sex, you should consider using emergency birth control.

EBC is only meant to be used in emergencies. If you are sexually active, you should strongly consider using regular birth control pills. Regular birth control pills are easier, safer, more effective and usually cheaper than any other kind of birth control in the long-term, including emergency birth control.

Talk to your doctor or health care provider find out what birth control option is best for you.