Emergency Contraception: Birth Control 101

accidents happen. the condom breaks, you forget your pill, you get swept up in the moment and forget to use protection. emergency contraception (aka EC) can be your best friend. EC pills should be taken within 120 hours (or 5 days) after you have unprotected sex. there are many different types of pills available, some with a prescription and some without. the most effective type of EC isn't a pill at all: a paragard IUD that's inserted by a health care provider within five days will reduce your chance of pregnancy by 99.9%. plus, it keeps working as a super effective means of birth control for up to 12 years. remember, use EC as soon as possible after you have unprotected sex. the sooner the better. ideally within 24 hours to 3 days but EC will still reduce your risk of pregnancy for up to five days. EC is safe to use but you shouldn't rely on it all the time. there are much more effective methods out there. get free or low-cost birth control at a nearby the right time health center in missouri. no insurance? no problem. visit therighttime.org for more information.