Can i use yaz as emergency contraception

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One of the top methods is Ella, a morning after pill you can take up to five days after unprotected sex. It uses a medicine called ulipristal acetate to prevent ovulation by blocking your body's production of the hormone progesterone, according to Planned Parenthood.

Ella is more effective than other morning after pills because its efficiency doesn't decline the longer you wait to take it the way it does with Plan B and its ilk. But there are two catches. First, you need a prescription. Plan B and other morning after pills besides Ella contain levonorgestrel, a synthetic progesterone-like hormone, and they can also stop ovulation or make it harder for a fertilized egg to implant.

Better yet, they're available over the counter, so no prescription necessary. But since they work best in the first 72 hours after unprotected sex, they're not successful as Ella. ParaGard, the copper IUD , is actually the most effective form of emergency contraception out there.

When inserted within five days after unprotected sex, it reduces the risk of pregnancy by 99 percent compared to the morning after pills' up to 95 percent, according to Planned Parenthood.

It works by releasing copper, which creates an inflammatory response in the uterus that makes it toxic to sperm, according to Mayo Clinic. But depending on your insurance, it may cost hundreds of dollars, plus it's a way bigger commitment than pills. But if that kind of commitment actually appeals to you and you're able to get an appointment ASAP, this can be a great option. Can women on antiretroviral therapy safely use ECPs?

Are ECPs appropriate for adolescents? A study of ECP use among girls 13 to 16 years old found it safe. Furthermore, all of the study participants were able to use ECPs correctly. Also, access to ECPs does not influence sexual behavior. Adolescents might particularly need ECPs because of high rates of forced sex, stigma about obtaining contraceptives, limited ability to plan for sex, and errors in using contraceptives.

Can a woman who cannot use combined estrogen-progestin oral contraceptives or progestin-only pills as an ongoing method still safely use ECPs? If ECPs failed to prevent pregnancy, does a woman have a greater chance of that pregnancy being an ectopic pregnancy? No evidence suggests that ECPs increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy.

Worldwide studies of progestin-only ECPs, including a US Food and Drug Administration review, have not found higher rates of ectopic pregnancy after ECPs failed than are found among pregnancies generally. Why give women ECPs before they need them? Progestin-only ECPs are more likely to be effective when taken sooner. Women given ECPs ahead of time were more likely to use them when needed than women who had to go to a provider to get ECPs. If ECPs require a prescription and cannot be given in advance, give a prescription that can be used as needed.

The sooner you use emergency contraception, the more likely it is to prevent pregnancy. Overall: The copper IUD is the most effective form of emergency contraception. It is inserted by a doctor and can prevent almost all pregnancy.

A prescription pill with ulipristal acetate such as ella works better for most woman to prevent pregnancy than the pill with levonorgestrel. If you have used hormonal birth control in the last week or have been using the shot, the prescription pill may not work well for you.

Emergency contraceptive pills with levonorgestrel are not as effective as the copper IUD or ulipristal. But they are available without a prescription at most drugstores. Does it cause side effects?

Emergency contraception may cause some side effects. Emergency contraception may cause spotting or mild symptoms like those of birth control pills. It usually doesn't cause nausea. Birth control pills can cause nausea or vomiting. In some women, they can also cause sore breasts, fatigue, headache, belly pain, or dizziness.

An IUD may cause cramping and bleeding during the first few days after insertion. What else should you think about? Emergency contraception pills won't protect you for the rest of your cycle. Use condoms or another barrier method of birth control until you start your period.

If you usually use a hormonal method of birth control, such as birth control pills, the vaginal ring, or the patch, check with your doctor about when to start using them again.

Talk with your doctor about methods of emergency contraception that aren't affected by a woman's weight, such as the copper IUD. Unless you get an IUD, emergency contraception does not take the place of regular birth control. Find a good method of birth control you can use every time you have sex. Emergency contraception does not prevent sexually transmitted infections STIs. If you are worried you might have been exposed to an STI, talk to your doctor.

Accidents can happen. It is a good idea to keep a set of the pills on hand in case you ever need it. In RA Hatcher et al. New York: Ardent Media.