In the U.S., progestin-only EC is available on the shelf without age restrictions to women and men. Look for Plan B One-Step, Take Action, Next Choice One-Dose, My Way or other generics in the family planning aisle.

Emergency contraception
is birth control that prevents pregnancy after sex, which is why it
is sometimes called “the
morning after pill,” “the day after pill,” or “morning after contraception.”
You can use emergency contraception
right away – or up to five days after sex – if you think your birth
control failed, you didn’t use contraception, or you were made to
have sex against your will.

Emergency contraception makes it much
less likely you will get pregnant. But emergency contraceptives
are not as effective
as birth control that’s used before or during sex, like the pill or
condoms. So if you are sexually active or planning to be, don’t use
emergency contraception as your only protection against pregnancy.
Also, emergency contraception does not protect against sexually
transmitted infections, like HIV (only condoms do). For help choosing the best regular method for you, try these free online tools: Bedsider, or My Contraception Tool (from a UK-based educational website).

Your options for emergency
contraception include:

Read our detailed academic review of the medical and social science
literature about emergency contraception in English or Spanish.