Emergency Contraception and Medication Abortion: What's the Difference? |
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Emergency Contraception
(or EC)
(Morning After Pill) |
Abortion Pill/
Medication Abortion
(Mifepristone/RU-486) |
| What Does It Do? |
Prevents a pregnancy after intercourse |
Ends a pregnancy |
| Names Of Pills |
Levonorgestrel (Plan B®) |
Mifepristone (Mifeprex®)
Misoprostol (Cytotec®) |
| What’s In The Pills? |
Plan B® contains progestin. This is one of the hormones found in daily birth control pills. |
Mifepristone stops a pregnancy from growing.
Misoprostol causes cramping so the pregnancy comes out of the uterus. |
| When Do You Take It? |
The sooner you take EC, the better it works. EC works up to 5 days after unprotected sex. The 2 pills can be taken together or 12 hours apart. |
It works in early pregnancy, up to 9 weeks after your last period. Your healthcare provider gives you one pill to swallow in the office. You take the second medicine at home. |
| What Happens to Your Body? |
Most women feel fine. Nausea is the most common side effect. Some women have vomiting, headache, dizziness, or breast pain.
The next period can come a few days early or a few days late. |
After taking the first pill, most women feel fine. After using the second medication at home, women have heavy bleeding, often with clots. This lasts for a couple of hours. Afterwards, lighter bleeding may last 1-3 weeks. Pain varies from mild to very strong cramps off and on. Pain pills help. |
| How Well Does It Work? |
EC lowers your chance of pregnancy by 85 to 99 percent. EC works best if you take the pills right after having unprotected sex. |
The abortion pill works about 98-99% of the time. If it does not work, you must have an aspiration abortion. |
| How Much Does It Cost? |
Plan B® costs about $50 for one pack. |
The exact cost depends on where you go. |
| Insurance Coverage |
Many private insurance plans do not cover Plan B®. In some states, Medicaid covers it. |
Many insurance plans now cover medication abortion. |
| How Do You Find It? |
Women 18 and older can get Plan B® in a pharmacy without a prescription. Women under 18 need a prescription to get Plan B®. Ask your health care provider or call (888) NOT-2-LATE or visit www.not-2-late.com |
Ask your health care provider, call (800) 772-9100, or go to www.prochoice.org/pregnant/find/ |
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These forms are not intended to provide legal, medical or other professional advice. They are not a substitute for consultation with a healthcare provider or for independent judgment by healthcare providers or other professionals regarding individual conditions and situations. |
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