The condom broke … but thanks to emergency contraception (EC), you have a second shot at reducing the chance of getting pregnant. That’s because EC can decrease a woman’s chance of becoming pregnant by up to 90 percent.
So what does that mean on a larger scale? Well, according to a new study by the Alan Guttmacher Institute (AGI), in the year 2000, about 51,000 abortions were prevented by the use of emergency contraception. That’s a huge increase from 1994, when only 4,000 abortions were averted by EC. And overall, 110,000 fewer abortions occurred in 2000 than in 1994.
Unlike abortion, which terminates an existing pregnancy, emergency contraception can actually prevent a pregnancy before it occurs — by preventing ovulation, or sometimes, fertilization. Because women were able to use EC to prevent an unwanted pregnancy, they didn’t face the choice of whether or not to have an abortion.
EC and You
Despite these impressive statistics, most women don’t know about emergency contraception, and few clinicians discuss it with their patients. So here’s the scoop: emergency contraception is a safe and effective ways to reduce the chance of pregnancy. EC is sometimes called the “morning-after pill.” This can reduce the risk of pregnancy if started within 120 hours (five days) of unprotected vaginal intercourse. The sooner it is taken, the better. If started within 72 hours of unprotected sex, it can reduce the risk of pregnancy by 75 to 89 percent.
Reasons for Pregnancy
According to the AGI study, 46 percent of women weren’t using a birth control method during the month they got pregnant. What were their most common reasons?
- They didn’t think they would become pregnant.
- They had had concerns about birth control methods, such as side effects or previous problems.
- They didn’t expect to have sex.
- They hadn’t thought about using contraception.
Birth Control Bloopers
On the other hand, more than half the women who had abortions in the year 2000 had been using a method of birth control during the month they became pregnant — most commonly, condoms or the Pill.
Does that mean that birth control isn’t reliable? No way! Seven percent of all women don’t use any kind of birth control. And this small percentage of the population accounts for nearly half of all abortions!
Most of the women who became pregnant while using the pill or condoms said that they hadn’t used them consistently — they didn’t take the pill every day or use condoms every time they had sex. And some condom users also said the condom had broken or slipped off.
On the other hand, used correctly — taken every day, at the same time each day — the pill is up to 99.7 percent effective against pregnancy.
And condoms, when used correctly and consistently (each time a couple has sex), are up to 98 percent effective against pregnancy, and also reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infections.
Spread the Word
Every woman at risk of unintended pregnancy should know about emergency contraception and have it in her medicine cabinet.
For more information on emergency contraception, call 1-800-230-PLAN for the nearest Planned Parenthood health center.
Related Links
Why Teens Need Emergency Contraception
Is there any way to reduce the risk of pregnancy after having unprotected sex?
Birth Control Choices for Teens