Emergency Contraception

Women who are sexually active and do not wish to become pregnant have many options when it comes to regular birth control. There is also a back-up method to prevent pregnancy called emergency contraception. Women who have experienced birth control failure, have had unprotected sex, or have been sexually assaulted can take emergency contraception up to 120 hours after unprotected sex to reduce their chance of pregnancy occurring.

To understand how emergency contraception, or EC, works, one must understand the process of how a woman becomes pregnant. During vaginal intercourse, the male releases sperm which travel up the vaginal canal and into the uterus. If a woman is ovulating, an egg may have been released. If a sperm reaches the egg, it becomes fertilized. This process can take up to six days. Once the egg is fertilized, it can take another six to ten days for the egg to attach to the uterus. This step in the reproductive cycle is called implantation. At this point, the woman's body secretes the HCG hormone to support her pregnancy.

Emergency contraception is a progestin-only pill. The progestin can prevent a woman from releasing an egg, or ovulating. EC also causes the lining of the uterus to thin which makes it difficult for a fertilized egg to attach to it. Furthermore, EC causes the production of cervical mucus. The mucus causes a barrier that can block the passage of a sperm on its way to join an egg. Emergency contraception has more efficacy the sooner it's taken. Emergency contraception reduces the risk of pregnancy up to 89% if taken within the first 72 hours of unprotected sex. EC is not an abortion pill.

Regular birth control methods should be used to prevent pregnancy when a woman is not ready to start a family. Emergency contraception is not for regular use. It is intended to be a back-up method only. Options include using a condom, diapraghm, ring, spermicide, oral combined pill, IUD, or a copper IUD for regular prevention of pregnancy. Males can also have a vasectomy. This is a sterilization which makes him unable to release sperm.

Some types of birth control pose a small risk to a woman's health, including an increased chance of cervical cancer. All methods of birth control have a failure rate. Condoms are the only form of birth control that can prevent the occurence of transmitted infections. 

There are advantages and disadvantages to every type of birth control. Implanon is implanted under the skin and releases progestin. Nuvaring is inserted into the vagina and releases progestin and estrogen. IUDs are inserted into the vagina. One type will release hormones, and another uses a copper coil to prevent the movement of sperm and thus prevent fertilization. Levanorgestrel is an oral contraceptive for daily use. The combined hormonal dosage prevents a woman from ovulating. A natural birth control method is coitus interruptus, or is called the pull-out method. This is not a very effective way to prevent pregnancy.