Emergency Contraception Types

Naturally, it's best to have a plan in place for birth control before you have sex, but sometimes things don't go according to plan. Your chosen birth control may fail or you may forget to use your contraceptive device. In such cases, it helps to know about the different types of emergency contraception to reduce the risk of an unwanted pregnancy from the encounter.

"Morning After" Pills

• So called "morning after" pills typically contain high doses of hormones designed to block ovulation, interfere with sperm reaching the egg, and/or change the uterine lining so that a fertilized egg cannot implant and develop into a pregnancy. Brands include planB, Next Choice, and Ella. Depending the brand, "morning after" pills may be effective up to five days after unprotected intercourse, but they will not cause an abortion in an established pregnancy. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you believe you need emergency contraception pills--they are often available over-the-counter without a prescription.

Regular Birth Control Pills

• Because they contain the same hormones as morning-after pills, regular birth control pills can also function as emergency contraception when taken in larger than normal doses. Check with a doctor or pharmacist before attempting to use birth control pills in this way, however, as the amount you need to take for the pills to function as emergency contraception will depend heavily on the brand. As with pills marketed as emergency contraception, however, large doses of birth control pills will not cause an abortion if you are already pregnant--this will only work if attempted within a few days after unprotected sex or birth control failure.

Copper IUD

• One lesser known form of emergency contraception is the copper-T type of intrauterine device, or IUD. If you need emergency contraception and also know that you do not want to get pregnant anytime in the next few years, a copper IUD may be an option to consider--but you'll need to call your doctor or midwife right away for an appointment, making sure to explain the situation and your interest in the device for emergency contraception purposes. Copper IUDs can only be inserted by a trained medical practitioner. IUDs can protect against pregnancy for up to 10 years, but note that IUDs do not provide protection against sexually transmitted diseases, so they are best used by women in monogomous relationships.

  Sexually transmitted diseases can cause serious complications if not treated before IUD insertion, so if you need emergency contraception because of a sexual encounter outside a monogamous relationship, you will want to choose a different type of emergency contraception and wait with an IUD until you can be tested for STDs.