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Emergency Contraceptive: There are Always Options

by on June 2, 2025

This article is shared by the Seattle Office for Civil Rights on behalf of the Seattle Women’s Commission (SWC). It is authored by Hannah Glover, member of the SWC. This post is not medical advice and is purely meant for education and entertainment. If you need emergency contraceptives or prophylaxis, consult the medication instructions or a healthcare professional. 

Mistakes are made, accidents happen, and sometimes birth control fails. Even in those circumstances there are still ways to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Beyond my role as a Commissioner on the Seattle Women’s Commission, I work as a health navigator at a local day center. As I write this I could easily reach into my desk drawer and grab a couple boxes of emergency contraceptives. I also know that there is a lot of misinformation, confusion and straight falsehoods surrounding emergency contraceptives and prophylaxis. This blog post is meant to bring more awareness to what is out there and what can be done. 

Emergency contraceptive pills are a medication that can be taken to stop a pregnancy from occurring. It can be used when a barrier method (such as condoms or diaphragms) fails or if another birth control method wasn’t taken as instructed (missed birth control pill doses). It is commonly known as the “Morning After Pill” or by one of its brand names “Plan B”.  Emergency contraception functions by stopping or delaying ovulations. Contrary to popular belief, it cannot stop an existing pregnancy from progressing or cause an abortion. 

The Emergency Contraceptive Pill has been available since the early 1960s. Originally it was only prescribed for survivors of sexual assault. It wasn’t until 2009 that Plan B became available to individuals 18 and older over the counter without a prescription. This initiative was championed by Washington’s very own Patty Murray. Plan B becoming an over the counter medication was a boon for its effectiveness.  The medication needs to be taken at most 72 hours after unprotected sex. Cutting out the time that it takes to get a doctor’s prescription and have the prescription fulfilled makes the medication an easily available option for more people. Its status as an over the counter medication means that people can buy the medication and keep it on hand in case they need it at a later point. 

Emergency contraceptive pills are not a perfect solution though. They do not protect against STIs and certain medications such as Plan B are most effective for individuals under 165 lbs. There are other brands on the market that are dosed for individuals who weigh more, but they may not be stocked in all pharmacies and individuals may not know that they need to take a different medication. Additionally there are limits to when the medication is effective. It only works if taken before a person has ovulated. Anecdotally from my own experience in the health field, I have worked with many people who believed that this pill was an abortion medication. 

Pregnancy is not the only outcome that can come from unprotected sex. STIs are a risk as well.  There are medications in place that can prevent a person from contracting an STI. There is a group of medications called post exposure prevention that can stop an infection from taking place. They come in two forms: DoxyPEP and PEP. PEP prevents contracting the viral infection HIV and DoxyPEP works to prevent bacterial STIs such as syphilis and chlamydia. Each of these strategies should be started at most 72 hours after possible exposure.

PEP is not specific medication but an antiviral approach to treating HIV. Its first use was during the height of the HIV/AIDS epidemic when health care workers would take AZT after accidental accidents such as needle sticks. Since the ‘80s, antiviral treatments have been utilized to keep individuals from developing HIV after exposures. HIV infections can be prevented. After an exposure, going to a local emergency room is the advised access point for getting these medications. Unlike medication such as PrEP (pre exposure prevention) these medications can be taken after a known exposure to prevent infection. Incidents of exposure could be needle punctures or unprotected sexual encounters. 

DoxyPEP is a much newer medication, with the CDC publishing the clinical guidelines in 2024. The goal of DoxyPEP is the same as PEP, which is to prevent an infection after exposure. DoxyPEP is a dose of the antibiotic, doxycycline. This strategy is still new and providers are debating whether this is the best strategy. Unlike HIV, bacterial infections are curable. There is a concern that this use of antibiotics could cause antibiotic resistance.  

Intrauterine devices, or IUDs can also be used to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex. While IUDs are traditionally thought to be a standard form of birth control, they can, depending on type, prevent sperm from reaching the egg or delay ovulation. If an IUD is placed within 5 days of unprotected sex, it can limit the risk of pregnancy by 99 percent. Additionally, it will then add protection against pregnancy that can last for 8-12 years. IUDs are available in both hormonal and non hormonal varieties. While this may seem like the ideal option, it may take longer to schedule an appointment for an IUD than just five days. For some, insertion can be quite painful.

Just as there is no one-size-fits-all birth control, there is not one particular emergency contraception that will suit everyone. It is up to the individual to figure out what is best for them and their circumstance. When in doubt, it is always a good idea to discuss with a health care provider.

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