You may have heard the morning after pill referred to as Plan B, emergency contraception (EC), etc. But more generally, the morning after pill is a form of emergency contraception (EC). These are products (whether pills or IUDs) that prevent pregnancy after unprotected intercourse, when no birth control was used or it was used imperfectly.
The morning after pill does not interrupt a pregnancy that is already growing inside your uterus or womb. It does not cause an abortion. The morning after pill typically works by either preventing your ovary from releasing an egg or stopping the sperm from reaching the egg.
Learn more about the morning after pill myths vs. facts by reading this article on our Sex+ Health Guide.
You should take the morning after pill when you have had unprotected intercourse and want to decrease your chances of becoming pregnant. This includes episodes where no birth control was used or if birth control was used, but was not effective (e.g. if a condom slipped/broke or multiple birth control pills were missed).
Most forms of the morning after pill are effective up to either 72 or 120 hours (3 or 5 days) after intercourse. It should always be taken as soon as possible after unprotected intercourse since effectiveness can change over time.
Because of the time frame to take the morning after pill, it’s helpful to have it on hand if you need it.
You can get New Day, a generic form of Plan B (the morning after pill) starting at $30 for 1 tablet.
See additional options here. If you're an existing Twentyeight Health user and would like to see if the morning after pill is available for a $0 copay with insurance (including Medicaid), you can message the doctor from your dashboard.
