By Kythryne Aisling

At the Scarleteen boards, we get a lot of questions from teens who are wondering if there's anything to be done to avoid pregnancy after unprotected intercourse, whether it's from a broken condom or from not using a condom in the first place. Regardless of how it happened, there is something that can reduce the risk of pregnancy greatly as long as it's done within 120 hours of the unprotected sexual activity, or sexual activity where your birth control method did or may have failed.

That something is called Emergency Contraception. Frequently refereed to as "the morning after pill" or "Plan B", Emergency Contraception Pills are readily available at Planned Parenthood clinics, health departments, doctors' offices, and even over the internet.

EC acts in exactly the same way as standard oral contraceptives, except that the dosage is higher. Depending on when in your cycle you take them, ECPs can delay or prevent ovulation, inhibit transport of either the egg or sperm, prevent fertilization of the egg from occurring, or alter the lining of the uterus in such a way as to make implantation of a fertilized egg impossible.

According to the American Medical Association, based on practice guidelines and information from the FDA and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the "effectiveness rate is likely to be at least a 75% reduction in the expected rate of pregnancy. For example, if 100 women have intercourse in the middle 2 weeks of their cycle, approximately 8 will become pregnant; with emergency contraception, this number is reduced to 2." The maxiumum effectiveness is currently listed at 89%.

ECPs do not cause an abortion, since they prevent pregnancy from occurring at all. They are, quite literally, emergency birth control. ECPs are very different from the drugs used to induce a chemical abortion, and if a woman has already become pregnant, EC cannot terminate that pregnancy.

Women over 18 are now able to access Plam B over the counter in many countires, including the US, UK and Canada. Those under 18 will need to obtain a prescription from a healthcare professionaland can obtain ECPs without their parents being notified. Some clinics may request parental consent before prescribing ECPs to minors, but they are not required by law to do so.

If you have just had unprotected sex that resulted in a pregnancy risk (if you're not sure what sort of sexual activity involves a pregnancy risk, check out our pregnancy risk assessment flowcharts) and you do not wish to become pregnant, you should obtain ECPs within 100 hours (one recent study is showing they may even be effective up to 120 hours). Again, when used properly and within 72 hours, ECPs can lower your pregnancy risk by up to 98%. The sooner they are used, the greater chance of effectiveness they will have.

To obtain ECPs, you can call 1-888-NOT-2-LATE, or visit http://ec.princeton.edu/providers/index.html, where you can search for a provider near you. ECPs are also frequently available from Planned Parenthood clinics, and you can find a clinic near you by calling 1-800-230-PLAN, or by visiting their website at http://plannedparenthood.com

Once you've found a healthcare provider who can prescribe ECP, you'll need to call their office or visit in person. Be prepared to answer questions such as:
• What was your last menstrual period?
• When did the unprotected sexual activity happen?
• Was it the only unprotected sexual activity during this menstrual cycle?
• You may also be asked if you've had a pelvic exam or pap smear during the past year, and you may also be asked for a medical history. Be honest with your answers - you will not be judged for what has happened.

Once the healthcare practitioner has determined that you have a pregnancy risk, she or he will discuss with you how to obtain the ECPs and how to take them. They may phone a prescription to a local pharmacy, or they may give them to you in person. You will told when to take each dose. Follow the instructions carefully, and call the healthcare practitioner immediately if you have any questions.

Side effects of ECPs can include nausea, vomiting, fatigue, headache, dizziness, and breast tenderness.

The cost of ECPs will depend on where you obtain them. Many clinics offer a sliding scale, and some clinics will even provide them for free. The average cost is usually between $30 and $60, but this can vary widely depending on where you go.

ECPs can be used repeatedly, but they are not recommended for use as an ongoing method of contraception. If you find yourself needing to use ECP on a regular basis, it would be a good idea to visit your healthcare provider and discuss your birth control options. Not sure what form of birth control to use? Check out our chart of birth control methods and their pros and cons.