I'm four weeks pregnant. Can I take the morning-after pill?

By Kendall @ Planned Parenthood | Dec. 30, 2011, 7:20 p.m.

I am a little over 4 weeks pregnant. What can I do? Will the “day after pill” work or do I need to get a medical abortion?

The morning-after pill will not work if you’re already pregnant. The morning-after pill — also called emergency contraception (EC) — helps prevent pregnancy before it happens. Medication abortion ends a pregnancy that already exists. Here's more info on the difference between emergency contraception and abortion pills.

Abortion laws vary by state. So if you you need the abortion pill, talk with an abortion provider as soon as you can. But be careful to visit a real abortion provider and not an anti-abortion crisis pregnancy center. You can find a trustworthy abortion provider at abortionfinder.org or your local Planned Parenthood health center.