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 For many single women and their partners, the threat of an unwanted pregnancy causes fear and anxiety every month. Yet over 50% of sexually active women in their twenties don't use birth control for every encounter. And 64% of women do not know that emergency contraception, the morning-after-pill, is now available without a prescription.That threat becomes a reality for more than 1.1 million women in their twenties annually, when they experience an unplanned pregnancy. That number has been rising for the past decade and despite stereotypes, it includes educated, high-income women.  The morning after pill, also called Plan B contraceptive, can be taken within 3 days of sexual intercourse. A form of emergency birth control, it was designed to prevent a woman from becoming pregnant after she has had unprotected sex. Morning after pills are considered safe, but many women are unaware that they exist. The morning after pill is a form of contraception and is not related to RU-486, the abortion pill. If you are already pregnant, it has no effect on the fetus. Several versions of the morning after pill are available. Typically, the contraceptive consists of two pills to prevent conception within 72 hours of unprotected sex. The medication prevents ovulation and fertilization and as well as implantation of an embryo. Conception seldom occurs right after intercourse. Commonly, it happens several days later, after ovulation. During the time between intercourse and conception, sperm continue to travel through the fallopian tube until the egg appears. So taking emergency birth control the "morning after" isn't too late to prevent pregnancy. The active ingredients in morning after pills are similar to those in birth control pills, except in higher doses. Plan B contains one hormone, levonorgestrel. Other forms of the morning after pill include both progestin and estrogen. Estrogen prevents ovulation. Progestin stops the sperm from reaching the egg and keeps a fertilized egg from implanting in the wall of the uterus. The morning after pill is designed to be taken within 72 hours of intercourse with a second dose taken 12 hours later. Those taking the pill may expetience side effects, including nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, fatigue, dizziness, menstrual changes and headache. The morning-after pill is considered 89 percent effective in preventing pregnancy after a single act of unprotected sex. Plan B is available to women and girls age 17 and older without a prescription at most pharmacies. Their partners may also purchase the medication. You must show proof of age to purchase Plan B. For girls age 16 and younger, Plan B is available only with a doctor's prescription. |
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