New, From Cape Family Medical Clinic
Cape Family Medical Clinic is now offering free, discreet emergency contraception items. Each kit includes:
- Two doses of levonorgestrel emergency contraception (an over-the-counter medication sometimes called “Plan B” or “the morning-after pill”)
- Safer sex supplies (like condoms and lube)
- Sexual health education and consent resources
- Connections to healthcare providers who can see you for affordable prices.
Please contact us for more info or stop by our Cape location for your free package. Come in and ask for a Free EC.
Emergency Contraception pills are a form of birth control taken after sex, instead of before. There are two types of EC Pills: ella®, a prescription-only form of EC, and levonorgestrel EC (sometimes called “Plan B” or “the morning-after pill”), an over-the-counter version. EC pills can be taken up to 5 days or 120 hours after unprotected or under-protected sex to help reduce the chance of becoming pregnant. They are more effective the sooner you take them.
EC pills work by preventing ovulation (the process where the egg leaves the ovary). If ovulation has already happened or if someone is already pregnant, the EC pills will not prevent a pregnancy or harm an existing pregnancy.
Yes! Intrauterine Devices (IUDs) can also be used as EC. When placed by a health care provider in a clinic within 5 days of under-protected sex, they are 99% effective at preventing pregnancy.
ella® is a form of EC that requires a prescription. Some people might choose ella® because it remains equally effective over the full 5 day window after underprotected sex while Plan B, the over-the-counter EC, is most effective during the first 3 days after underprotected sex, and less effective after that. ella® is also more effective overall for people with higher BMIs.
There are several medicines that can interact with EC pills and make them less effective. These include the antibiotic rifampin, the antifungal griseofulvin, certain HIV medicines like efavirenz, certain anti-seizure medicines like carbamazepine and phenytoin (which are sometimes also used to treat conditions like bipolar disorder), and the herb St. John’s Wort. If you are taking any of these medications, contact a health center near you – they can determine if over-the-counter EC is a good option for you.
EC pills (levonorgestrel or ulipristal acetate) are not abortion pills (mifepristone and misoprostol). They cannot cause an abortion or harm an existing pregnancy.
Yes. As a reminder, according to the Missouri Governor, Attorney General’s office, and Department of Health and Senior Services, all forms of birth control, including emergency contraception, are legal in the state of Missouri.
No. Anyone of any age can purchase or receive over-the-counter emergency contraception.
