Answers to Frequently Asked Questions About...
Safety
Can I use emergency contraception even if I've been told I shouldn't use daily birth control pills?
Yes, most women can safely use emergency
contraceptive pills - even if you have been told that the
hormones found in oral contraceptives could increase your risk of
blood clots, stroke, heart disease, or other cardiovascular problems.
Medical experts agree that when used as emergency
contraception, the estrogen and progestin do not carry the same
risks as taking the birth control pill every day.
If your health care provider has said you should absolutely avoid estrogen, you can probably still use one of the three other types of emergency contraception: progestin-only emergency contraceptive pills (like Plan B One-Step, Next Choice One Dose, or My Way), ulipristal acetate (ella) or the Copper-T IUD.
Emergency contraceptive
pills ("morning
after pills" or "day after pills") have no long
term or serious side effects although you might experience some minor
side effects.
For a more detailed academic review of the medical and social science
literature about emergency contraception, including its safety record,
click
here .