Any of these, taken in time, have a good chance of preventing pregnancy.
Pregnancydoesnt begin the instant you have sex.
So this isnt foolproof, and it definitely shouldnt be your first line of defense against pregnancy.
You havemany birth control optionsyou can usebeforeyou have sex.
Its nearly 100% effective if you might get it inserted within five days after unprotected sex.
(Some providers dont keep them in stock because theyre so expensive.)
If they do, hang up and find someone else.This directory of Planned Parenthood clinicsmight come in handy.
Another online pharmacy,KwikMed, has a similar dealcurrently priced at $59.
Ella blocks progesterone, a hormone thats needed to begin a pregnancy.
Ella seems to prevent pregnancy bypreventing the ovary from releasing an egg cell.
Normally you release an egg, or ovulate, about two weeks before your period.
Having sex in the few days before ovulation is likely (though never guaranteed) to lead to pregnancy.
An important note about both of the pill-based options is that they areless effective in women with high BMIs.
If youre overweight, Ella may be more effective for you than levonorgestrel, which we discuss below.
This is the least effective method, but its the easiest to get.
On the second and third day, its61% effective.
you might still take it on days four and five, but the efficacy is even lower.
These work similarly to Plan B, and should also be taken as soon as possible.
Not-2-late has achart that gives the dosage for different brands of pills.
This option only really makes sense if you have birth control pills on hand but havent been taking them.
that works better for you going forward.
Illustration by Fruzsina Kuhari.
IUD image byShips at a Distance.. Plan B photo byMike Mozart.
