Here's what you need to know to get emergency contraception right away

Here's what you need to know to get emergency contraception right away

Last week's Supreme Court decision, Roe v. Overturning Wade — the landmark 1973 case that protected a person's right to an abortion at the federal level — has already led to abortion bans in seven states, with more bans and restrictions likely to follow. Many are wondering what this means for continued access to emergency contraception, including the morning after pill and copper IUDs (these are different from hormonal IUDs typically used for long-term contraception), both of which help prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex.

So can you still get emergency contraception after Roe v. Wade was lifted? The short answer is: Yes, you can still access emergency contraception now, says Tamika K. Cross, MD, FACOG, a Texas-based gynecologist and female health medical advisor for pH-D, in an interview with Shape. “It’s available,” she says. However, there are concerns about a possible shortage as people may seek to secede following the appeal of Roe v. “Stocking up” Wade with emergency contraceptives explains Dr. Cross. Many people “are afraid because their reproductive rights are managed by the government,” she explains. (Related: Harmful DIY abortion advice is circulating online and is dangerously easy to find)

This concern about lack or future lack of access is particularly profound for people living in one of the 13 trigger states - areas where the Roe v. “Wade meant automatic or shortly thereafter action to ban abortions at the state level,” says Jessica Shepherd, MD, an ob-gyn and chief medical officer at Verywell Health, also based in Texas. But that doesn't mean there aren't emergency contraception options in these states.

Emergency contraceptives are different from abortion drugs like abortion pills and are currently legal even in states that have already banned abortions or are planning to ban abortions, both Drs. Shepherd and Dr. Cross. "However, due to the increased confusion caused by Friday's ruling, there may be an increase in the number of people buying these drugs and keeping them on hand for fear of losing access to them later," says Dr. Shepherd.

“I completely understand the fear,” says Dr. Cross. "The same thing happened with water and toilet paper during the pandemic. It's a natural reaction and to be expected," she says. In response, some pharmacies have begun limiting purchases of emergency contraceptives to avoid potential stockpiling shortages (more on this later).

Want to learn more about emergency contraception options and how you can access them no matter where you live? Read on for details, including whether or not experts recommend purchasing emergency contraceptives to have on hand for the future and whether there really is a shortage on the horizon.

The different types of emergency contraception

When it comes to emergency contraception, you essentially have two options: take the morning-after pill or put on a copper IUD, explains Dr. Shepherd.

The most common method of emergency contraception is taking the morning after pill, which refers to a variety of emergency contraception pills available from different brands such as Plan B, Take Action, My Choice and others. Most brands of pills contain levonorgestrel, a hormonal drug that prevents ovulation, according to the Mayo Clinic. The only prescription morning after pill is called ella and is made with ulipristal acetate, a selective progesterone receptor modulator that inhibits or delays ovulation.

If you're wondering how exactly these emergency contraceptive pills work, here's the short version: Sperm can live in your body for up to five days. If you ovulate during this time, you may become pregnant. Emergency contraceptive pills prevent or delay ovulation (read: they prevent your ovaries from releasing an egg), which is why it's important to take them as soon as possible. When taken within 72 to 120 hours (the window varies depending on the type) of unprotected sex, emergency contraceptive pills are 89 percent effective, reports the Cleveland Clinic.

A copper IUD, on the other hand, is effective at preventing pregnancy even if you've already ovulated because "sperms don't like the copper in the IUD," which makes it harder for sperm to reach an egg, according to the Cleveland Clinic. An IUD is 99.9 percent effective at preventing pregnancy if a doctor inserts it within five days (or 120 hours) of unprotected sex. It's also worth noting that copper IUDs are just as effective at preventing pregnancy if you take them on the day of unprotected sex or on the fifth day afterward. Additionally, a copper IUD from Paragard (the only brand available in the U.S.) can provide protection against future pregnancy for up to 12 years or until you decide to have it removed.

Regardless of which emergency contraception you choose, it's important to note that emergency contraception is not the abortion pill, says Dr. Shepherd. "Many think [emergency contraception] is similar to the abortion pill in that it causes a miscarriage or ends a pregnancy, but that is not the case," she clarifies about receiving abortion pills in the mail).

How to get emergency contraception

Getting a copper IUD requires a visit to a healthcare provider. You can call your doctor, a family planning clinic, or Planned Parenthood if you want one, but you must do so quickly to ensure you get an appointment within 120 hours of having unprotected sex. However, most morning-after pills are available without a prescription in pharmacies, drugstores, and grocery stores. While you'll need a prescription specifically for Ella, you don't necessarily need to see a doctor in person to get it.

Some online pharmacies, including Nurx, offer Ella and generic emergency contraceptive pills after a virtual medical consultation. The advantage of using the online service Nurx is that a patient who needs prescription ella can note on their order whether it is urgent (meaning unprotected sex has already occurred) or "if they have it on hand." for the future," says Varsha Rao, head of Nurx at Thirty Madison. Stix (which makes Restart, a levonorgestrel pill similar to Plan B), Wisp and Mark Cuban's Cost Plus Drug Company are other online options for ordering emergency contraceptive pills.

Should you buy emergency contraception now, just in case?

Not surprisingly, after the Supreme Court's draft opinion on Roe v. Wade leaked in May 2022 saw a 300 percent increase in requests for emergency contraception to be "stocked" for future use, and that number has continued to rise since the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade has officially repealed, says Rao. (FYI, most brands of emergency contraceptives have a shelf life of a few years, so you can buy them before you need them, but you should check the expiration date in case you need to take them.)

While you may be tempted to stock up on the morning after pill now just in case you might need it later, experts agree that it's important not to overdo it. Less than a week after the repeal of Roe v. Wade, CVS, Rite Aid and Amazon began limiting the number of emergency contraceptive pills to avoid stockpiling shortages. Nurx's initial surge in sales led the company to limit purchases to two per person, but now it allows five per person because it has "a lot of supply" and wants people to be able to order more if they need it, Rao adds.

"It may be tempting to stockpile large amounts of Plan B, but because they expire, it's not worth stockpiling," says Dr. Shepherd. "This may also cause shortages for others who need it. As of now, there is no concern that Plan B will eventually become unavailable, so it is best to only purchase when needed."