What emergency contraception is, what it is not and why might a person want to make an emergency contraception visit...

First here is what it is not! Plan B is NOT a method of abortion and it will not cause an abortion. 

Plan B will NOT work if you are already pregnant from a previous sexual encounter and it will NOT cause birth defects to a developing fetus.

Plan B is NOT a way to prevent sexually transmitted infections. It does not prevent HIV/AIDS or other sexually transmitted infections.

Plan B is NOT as effective as the correct and consistent use of a birth control method. It is meant for emergencies.

Here is what it is!    

Plan B is also known as emergency contraception.

It is a safe and reliable method for prevention of pregnancy after unprotected sex or failure of a birth control method (which often means the person was not using their method correctly). A few examples of times a person may benefit from emergency contraception are: after a rape, if a condom breaks or slips off, a person forgot to take their pills, forgot to change their patch, forgot to get their depo shot, or if the person was under the influence of alcohol or some other drug and isn’t sure, but thinks they may have had sex.

If you need Plan B call our office as soon as possible. The first dose of Plan B must be taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex so it is important to call us right away.

What can you expect at your visit?

At your visit you will be asked some questions such as: when was your last period, was it normal in length and timing, have you had sex with a new partner or a partner who has sex with people other than yourself. You will be given information about Plan B and its side effects and given a consent form to read and sign. You will be provided with a Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) form so that you know your health care privacy rights. Learn more about HIPAA at this link http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa. Testing for sexually transmitted infections will be offered if appropriate. You will be given information about other methods of birth control, STD including HIV/AIDS prevention, folic acid, domestic violence, and rubella.

If you would like to start a consistent method of birth control arrangements will be made for that.

You will be instructed to call for an appointment in 4 weeks if you have not gotten your period.

To find out how to get EC when we are not open please click on the following link:

How to get emergency contraception on the weekend and after clinic hours:

Click on the links below for medically accurate information about how Plan B, the emergency contraceptive, works.

“What NY Consumers Need To Know About Plan B”  Prepared by the Education Fund of Family Planning Advocates of New York State in partnership with the NYS State Board of Pharmacy, the Pharmacists Society of the State of New York, New York Council of Health System Pharmacists, NYS Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the NYS Coalition Against Sexual Assault.

This fact sheet was adapted from materials developed by the Pharmacy Access Partnership (www.go2ec.com), with permission, and from www.not-2-late.com.

http://ec.princeton.edu the site of www.Not-2-Late.com This website is operated by the Office of Population Research at Princeton University and by the Association of Reproductive Health Professionals and has no connection with any pharmaceutical company or for-profit organization. This website is peer reviewed by a panel of independent experts.

 http://www.go2planb.com/ForConsumers/Index.aspx  from Duramed, the manufacturer of Plan B. Duramed is a subsidiary of Barr Pharmaceuticals, Inc.