Emergency Contraception

After unprotected sex, if you act quickly, there's still something you can do to protect yourself against pregnancy.

Where can I get Emergency Contraception?

Emergency Contraception (the brand name is "Plan B") can be bought at PPNYC without a prescription if you're 18 or older and bring proof of your age. You can get Emergency Contraception at one of our three health center locations:

Manhattan: 26 Bleecker Street
Monday: 9am to 4pm
Tuesday - Saturday: 11am to 4pm

Brooklyn: 44 Court Street
Monday - Saturday: 10am to 4pm

Bronx: 349 E. 149th Street
Tuesday - Saturday: 10am to 4pm

If you're under 18, you can still obtain Plan B at PPNYC if you make an appointment to see a clinician. It is best to make an appointment by calling (212) 965-7000 but even if you don't you can still come to PPNYC for Emergency Contraception. But, please arrive as early as you can (at least one hour before the health center's closing time) and understand that you may have a wait to be seen. Clients who arrive near closing time may not be seen until the next day. To find the regular hours of the PPNYC health center nearest to you, type your zip code in the "Find a Health Center" box at the top of this page.

What is Emergency Contraception?

It is a series of birth control pills to use in an emergency to try to prevent pregnancy. "Emergency" in this case means just one thing: you have had unprotected vaginal intercourse within the past 5 days. If that is your situation, you have the option of using the pills to stop a possible pregnancy before it gets started. The sooner you take Emergency Contraception after unprotected intercourse, the greater the likelihood of preventing pregnancy.

How does Emergency Contraception work?

A large dose of hormones (like the natural hormones that control your menstrual cycle) taken at the critical time — no more than 5 days after unprotected sex — gives your system a hormonal jolt. These hormones can prevent a pregnancy, most likely in one of two ways:

• If your ovaries have not released your monthly egg cell yet, the hormones can stop the process. No egg cell means no chance of an egg and sperm meeting — therefore, no chance of pregnancy.
• The hormones may interfere with fertilization — the fusion of a sperm and egg.
• Theoretically, the hormones could also prevent implantation of a fertilized egg in the the lining of the uterus, but this has not been proven scientifically.

Can anybody get Emergency Contraception?

It is available for emergencies. This simply means you had unprotected vaginal intercourse and you have gotten to us for help no more than 5 days later.

There are no absolute contraindications — a symptom or condition that would make a health care provider decide against a particular treatment — to the Emergency Contraception regimen except known pregnancy, and that only because Emergency Contraception does not work once pregnancy is established, not because it is known to be harmful.

How effective is it?

Emergency Contraception is 75–89% effective, depending on the method used, the time of your menstrual cycle, and how soon after sex it is taken. The sooner the better. Research studies have estimated the progestin-only method, Plan B, to be 59-94% effective.

Will it make me sick?

Maybe, for a day or so. It is common to have mild pregnancy-type symptoms, such as like nausea, vomiting, sore breasts, irregular bleeding, headaches, or dizziness (the same reactions women tend to get with birth control pills and other forms of hormonal birth control).

Although rare, serious problems, particularly with blood clots, can occur with the use of birth control pills. Women over 35 who smoke run the greatest risk. However, because exposure to the pills is so short, medical experts do not think birth control pills used as Emergency Contraception are likely to cause blood clotting problems.

Are there any other risks?

You should not use the pills if you are (or think you are) pregnant because they will not end an existing pregnancy. But if the pills fail and pregnancy occurs, there are no known side effects to you or the fetus.

Are the pills approved as safe?

Yes. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has said it is safe for women to take these pills as high-dose emergency treatment to prevent pregnancy.

If you decide to go ahead with Emergency Contraception treatment:

• You must take the first set of pills as soon as possible (and no later than 5 days) after the episode of unprotected sex.
• Take the second set of pills 12 hours after the first dose. Or, if you prefer, both doses can be taken together.
• Your next menstrual period may be earlier or later than usual, heavier or lighter than expected. If you do not get a period in three to four weeks you should get a pregnancy test and checkup.
• If you need to see a medical provider for any reason before you get your period, be sure to tell him or her you took Emergency Contraception pills.

Call the PPNYC health center at (212) 965-7000 if you

• Have questions or think you have a problem
• Are so sick to your stomach or are throwing up so much that you can’t take the second dose of pills
• Think you might be pregnant