Preventing Pregnancy after Sex

Emergency contraception, also called “the morning after pill” and sold under the brand name Plan B -- It’s emergency birth control!

Sometimes the condom breaks, or you forget to use your regular birth control. If you have unprotected sex or think that your birth control might not be working, you can still prevent pregnancy after sex.

Morning after birth control, or emergency contraception (EC), is composed of a special formulation of the hormones used in regular birth control. It is sold under the brand name Plan B. You can also use your regular birth control pills as emergency birth control. Click here to learn how.

Here’s what you need to know about EC:

Take EC if:
• You had sex and didn’t use protection
• Someone forced you to have sex
• You forgot to take your birth control pills
• You’re late for your DepoProvera shot
• The condom broke, leaked or came off

Take EC :
• Immediately after unprotected sex if possible.
• It’s most effective within 24 hours
• Little by little it becomes less effective
• After 5 days, it won’t work

What about side effects?
• Some women have them
• You may feel tired, dizzy or sick to your stomach
• You may vomit or have abdominal cramps, headache or tender breasts
• If symptoms last longer than a day, see your healthcare provider
• Your period may be lighter or heavier than usual.
• If your period is late, you may already have been pregnant and you will need to see your healthcare provider.

More important information

 Using EC may change the time of the month when you can become pregnant

 After you use EC, you must take extra care to use birth control every time you have sex until you get your next period.

 If you have unprotected sex again, be sure to take EC again

 You have the best chance of taking EC immediately after unprotected sex if you have it on hand before you need it. Get it today. Always keep it handy.

 EC never protects against sexually transmitted infection. Always use a condom.

 

How to get EC

 In Florida, EC is covered by Medicaid, so the cost is reimbursed if you are on Medicaid—but ONLY with a prescription.

 Miami-Dade public health clinics provide EC for free or on a sliding scale, depending on your income. Click here for a list of these clinics. 

 Plan B is provided for free to all teens under age 18.

 All Planned Parenthood clinics provide Plan B at 35.00. Click here to search for the clinic closest to you.

 You can also get EC at the following locations, but be sure to call first to see if EC is in stock!

 

7th Avenue Pharmacy

14812 NW 7 Ave.

Miami

FL

33168

305-688-0680

Baptist Medical Arts Pharmacy

8950 N. Kendall Dr.

Miami

FL

33168

305-272-82221

Central Pharmacy
(least expensive at $35.00)

2747 SW 27 Avenue

Miami

FL

33133

305-445-2886

Coral Way Pharmacy

6965 SW 24 St.

Miami

FL

33155

305-266-5177

Farmacia Julia Discount
(most expensive at $60.95)

3000 NW 7 St.

Miami

FL

33125

305-642-6211

Farmacia Las Martinez

2032 NW 22 Av.

Miami

FL

33142

305-634-6027

Gran Pharmacy Discount

2140 NW 36 St.

Miami

FL

33142

305-264-5259

International Garden Pharmacy

12608 SW 8 St.

Miami

FL

33184

305-533-6327

Latina Pharmacy

300 SW 107 Avenue

Sweetwater

FL

33174

305-551-4177

Live & Let Live

3500 NW 17 Ave.

Miami

FL

33142

305-635-5203

Miami Infusion Pharmacy

7160 W 20 Ave.

Hialeah

FL

33016

305-558-7523

Morales Discount Pharmacy

5855 SW 137 Avenue

Miami

FL

33183

305-382-9940

My Pharmacy Coral Reef

15043 S Dixie Hwy

Miami

FL

33176

305-238-2474

Omega Pharmacy

9357 SW 72 St.

Miami

FL

33173

305-279-9999

Sweetwater Pharmacy

528 109 Ave.

Sweetwater

FL

33174

304-344-8021

Ultra Medical Services

17601 NW 78 Ave.

Miami

FL

33015

305-820-2855

Universal Arts Compounding Pharmacy
www.uaprx.com

6500 W 4th Ave.

Hialeah

FL

33012

305-556-2673

67th Avenue Pharmacy

2501 SW 67th Ave.

Miami

FL

33155

305-661-8800

Allen's Drugs

4000 SW 57 Avenue

South Miami

FL

33155

305-666-8581

Coto's Pharmacy

4982 W 12th Ave.

Hialeah

FL

33012-3115

305-821-1430

Eighty-Eight Pharmacy & Discount

7471 SW 8th St.

Miami

FL

33144

305-264-8404

Farmacia Luis

3197 SW 18th St.

Miami

FL

33145

305-448-6523

Farmacia Olympia

9884 SW 40th St.

Miami

FL

33165

305-221-4711

Gran Pharmacy Discount

2140 NW 36th St.

Miami

FL

33142

305-635-7659

Hermanas Gonzalez Pharmacy & Discount

8336 SW 8th St.

Miami

FL

33144

305-264-5259

Madel Pharmacy

7958 SW 8th St.

Miami

FL

33144

305-266-9999

My Pharmacy

15043 South Dixie Highway

Miami

FL

33176

305-238-2474

Sedano's Pharmacy & Discount

1601 W Flagler St.

Miami

FL

 

305-643-9762

Westchester Pharmacy

7245 Coral Way

Miami

FL

33155

305-261-1234

 

Most locations of the following chain pharmacies in your area stock EC. Click the name below to search for the closest locations to you. Be sure to call ahead to see if they have it in stock!

 

Walmart

CVS

Eckerd

Target

Walmart

Winn Dixie

Publix Super Markets

Navarro Discount Pharmacy

Pill Box Pharmacies

Additional Information
• Plan B is safe and effective when taken according to directions
• Research shows that emergency birth control works by interfering with ovulation or fertilization.
• Emergency birth control DOES NOT cause an abortion. It will not work if you are already pregnant.

Emergency birth control is most likely to work if you have it on hand before you need it.

Get Plan B before you need it.

Always keep it on hand!


See the following links to learn more:

Planned Parenthood Federation of America
www.Not-2-Late.com

 Follow these instructions for oral contraceptives that can be used for emergency contraception in the United Statesa:

Brand First Doseb Second Doseb
(12 hours later)

Progestin-only pills

Plan B 2 white pills Noneb

Combined progestin and estrogen pills

Alesse 5 pink pills 5 pink pills
Aviane 5 orange pills 5 orange pills
Cryselle 4 white pills 4 white pills
Enpresse 4 orange pills 4 orange pills
Jolessa 4 pink pills 4 pink pills
Lessina 5 pink pills 5 pink pills
Levlen 4 light-orange pills 4 light-orange pills
Levlite 5 pink pills 5 pink pills
Levora 4 white pills 4 white pills
Lo/Ovral 4 white pills 4 white pills
Low-Ogestrel 4 white pills 4 white pills
Lutera 5 white pills 5 white pills
Lybrel 6 yellow pills 6 yellow pills
Nordette 4 light-orange pills 4 light-orange pills
Ogestrel 2 white pills 2 white pills
Ovral 2 white pills 2 white pills
Portia 4 pink pills 4 pink pills
Quasense 4 white pills 4 white pills
Seasonale 4 pink pills 4 pink pills
Seasonique 4 light-blue-green pills 4 light-blue-green pills
Tri-Levlen 4 yellow pills 4 yellow pills
Triphasil 4 yellow pills 4 yellow pills
Trivora 4 pink pills 4 pink pills

Source:  www.not-2-late.com

a Plan-B is the only dedicated product specifically marketed for emergency contraception. Alesse, Aviane, Cryselle, Enpresse, Jolessa, Lessina, Levlen, Levlite, Levora, Lo/Ovral, Low-Ogestrel, Lutera, Lybrel, Nordette, Ogestrel, Ovral, Portia, Quasense, Seasonale, Seasonique, Tri-Levlen, Triphasil, and Trivora have been declared safe and effective for use as ECPs by the United States Food and Drug Administration. Outside the United States, more than 50 emergency contraceptive products are specifically packaged, labeled, and marketed. Levonorgestrel-only ECPs are available either over-the-counter or from a pharmacist without having to see a clinician in 50 countries. On August 24, 2006, the FDA approved Plan B for nonprescription sale to women and men 18 and older.

b The label for Plan B says to take one pill within 72 hours after unprotected intercourse, and another pill 12 hours later. However, recent research has found that both Plan B pills can be taken at the same time. Research has also shown that that all of the brands listed here are effective when used within 120 hours after unprotected sex.