If your first plan for birth control fails, make sure you have Plan B!
Plan B, ella, Next Choice, and One-Step are the brand names of emergency contraception (EC)- pills you can take to prevent pregnancy if you have had unprotected sex. EC pills work by preventing the ovaries from releasing eggs, which keeps you from getting pregnant. EC pills are a form of birth control and they do NOT cause abortion.
EC can be taken up to 5 days (120 hours) after having unprotected sex but the sooner you take it, the better it works.
EC is easy to find. You can pick it up at a drugstore without a prescription if you are at least 17 years old, and teens any age can get a prescription at a clinic without a parent’s permission.
Because EC is the most effective when you act fast, it’s a good idea to have some in case of an emergency. Make sure you have a safe place to store your EC, and remember that it does not protect against STDs.