“Oops you probably did it once more, obtained misplaced in my bag, oh contraception drugs.” If you happen to’ve been singing that tune these days—or the condom broke, or your vaginal ring fell out, otherwise you’re on antibiotics that mess with the effectiveness of your drugs—you might be contemplating emergency contraception.
Generally known as the morning-after tablet, there are literally two varieties of emergency-contraception drugs that delay or inhibit ovulation: the progestin-only morning-after tablet, and ulipristal acetate tablets (a mouthful, we all know). Your different choice is a copper IUD, which prevents sperm from reaching the egg. If you happen to're already pregnant, none of those strategies will have an effect on the being pregnant or set off an abortion. (The drugs aren't abortion drugs.)
To save lots of you a bunch of panicked Googling, right here’s what you might want to learn about EC and easy methods to get it irrespective of which state you reside in.
What’s my timeline?
The morning-after tablet works finest once you take it inside three days of getting unprotected intercourse. The earlier you’re taking it, the higher it really works. Ulipristal acetate tablets are efficient for as much as 5 days afterward. (Price noting: There's proof that morning-after drugs have the next failure fee in girls over 175 kilos. However docs say there's not sufficient to counsel you shouldn't nonetheless take it.) And you will get an IUD not more than 5 days after you’ve had unprotected intercourse.
Do I would like a prescription?
No matter how previous you’re, you don’t want a prescription for the progestin-only morning-after tablet, however you do want one for ulipristal acetate. A physician or nurse might want to insert the IUD.
Does insurance coverage cowl EC?
Below the Reasonably priced Care Act, most non-public well being plans should cowl all contraception, together with EC, as prescribed. And also you shouldn’t have a copay, even if you happen to haven’t met your deductible. When you have Medicaid, most states cowl a minimum of one type of EC. If you happen to work for a non secular employer, you will have to pay out of pocket.
OK, however what if I purchase it over-the-counter?
In most states, if you happen to purchase the morning-after tablet over-the-counter, you’ll need to pay the retail worth, which is between $35 and $60. That doesn’t essentially imply you might want to go to the physician without spending a dime EC, although: In 10 states (Alaska, California, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Vermont and Washington State), pharmacists can prescribe progestin-based drugs.
Can the pharmacist refuse to provide it to me?
Sure, in just a few states (Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, Georgia, Mississippi and South Dakota). In a few of these states, the pharmacist should refer you to a different employees member who can assist you, or let you know the place else you should buy EC. If she or he refuses to cooperate, ask to talk to another person. You might want to search out one other pharmacy or attempt calling your physician.
The place precisely can I discover it?
You’ll want a health care provider or nurse to insert the IUD. You should buy the morning-after tablet at pharmacies, within the family-planning aisle of main retailers (suppose Goal and Walmart), on-line, and at Deliberate Parenthood. The identical goes for ulipristal acetate, however earlier than you should purchase it on-line, you’ll have to undergo a free on-line medical session as a way to get a prescription.
Can I refill prematurely?
Sure. Although EC drugs do have a shelf life, it’s often years lengthy. If you happen to’re shopping for them for future use, examine the expiration date, and make an observation of it in your calendar so you’ll be able to restock earlier than then if crucial.
Can another person purchase it for me?
There’s no regulation that claims the individual buying EC over-the-counter needs to be the one who plans on taking it. Anybody should purchase it, no matter their gender or age. Although prescriptions for EC could be issued solely to the affected person, another person ought to be capable to decide up the prescription for you.
“Oops you probably did it once more, obtained misplaced in my bag, oh contraception drugs.” If you happen to’ve been singing that tune these days—or the condom broke, or your vaginal ring fell out, otherwise you’re on antibiotics that mess with the effectiveness of your drugs—you might be contemplating emergency contraception.
Generally known as the morning-after tablet, there are literally two varieties of emergency-contraception drugs that delay or inhibit ovulation: the progestin-only morning-after tablet, and ulipristal acetate tablets (a mouthful, we all know). Your different choice is a copper IUD, which prevents sperm from reaching the egg. If you happen to're already pregnant, none of those strategies will have an effect on the being pregnant or set off an abortion. (The drugs aren't abortion drugs.)
To save lots of you a bunch of panicked Googling, right here’s what you might want to learn about EC and easy methods to get it irrespective of which state you reside in.
What’s my timeline?
The morning-after tablet works finest once you take it inside three days of getting unprotected intercourse. The earlier you’re taking it, the higher it really works. Ulipristal acetate tablets are efficient for as much as 5 days afterward. (Price noting: There's proof that morning-after drugs have the next failure fee in girls over 175 kilos. However docs say there's not sufficient to counsel you shouldn't nonetheless take it.) And you will get an IUD not more than 5 days after you’ve had unprotected intercourse.
Do I would like a prescription?
No matter how previous you’re, you don’t want a prescription for the progestin-only morning-after tablet, however you do want one for ulipristal acetate. A physician or nurse might want to insert the IUD.
Does insurance coverage cowl EC?
Below the Reasonably priced Care Act, most non-public well being plans should cowl all contraception, together with EC, as prescribed. And also you shouldn’t have a copay, even if you happen to haven’t met your deductible. When you have Medicaid, most states cowl a minimum of one type of EC. If you happen to work for a non secular employer, you will have to pay out of pocket.
OK, however what if I purchase it over-the-counter?
In most states, if you happen to purchase the morning-after tablet over-the-counter, you’ll need to pay the retail worth, which is between $35 and $60. That doesn’t essentially imply you might want to go to the physician without spending a dime EC, although: In 10 states (Alaska, California, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Vermont and Washington State), pharmacists can prescribe progestin-based drugs.
Can the pharmacist refuse to provide it to me?
Sure, in just a few states (Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, Georgia, Mississippi and South Dakota). In a few of these states, the pharmacist should refer you to a different employees member who can assist you, or let you know the place else you should buy EC. If she or he refuses to cooperate, ask to talk to another person. You might want to search out one other pharmacy or attempt calling your physician.
The place precisely can I discover it?
You’ll want a health care provider or nurse to insert the IUD. You should buy the morning-after tablet at pharmacies, within the family-planning aisle of main retailers (suppose Goal and Walmart), on-line, and at Deliberate Parenthood. The identical goes for ulipristal acetate, however earlier than you should purchase it on-line, you’ll have to undergo a free on-line medical session as a way to get a prescription.
Can I refill prematurely?
Sure. Although EC drugs do have a shelf life, it’s often years lengthy. If you happen to’re shopping for them for future use, examine the expiration date, and make an observation of it in your calendar so you’ll be able to restock earlier than then if crucial.
Can another person purchase it for me?
There’s no regulation that claims the individual buying EC over-the-counter needs to be the one who plans on taking it. Anybody should purchase it, no matter their gender or age. Although prescriptions for EC could be issued solely to the affected person, another person ought to be capable to decide up the prescription for you.