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What is Emergency Contraception (Plan B, The Morning-After Pill)?

By Dawn Stacey M.Ed, LMHC, About.com

Updated: October 07, 2007

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Photo (c) 2007 Dawn Stacey licensed to About.com, Inc
Question: What is Emergency Contraception (Plan B, The Morning-After Pill)?

Emergency contraception (EC) (also known as Plan B or The morning-after pill) is a safe and effective form of emergency contraception. Emergency contraception is used to help keep a woman from getting pregnant after she has had unprotected sex.

Answer: Emergency contraception (EC, Plan B or The morning-after pill), or emergency birth control, is an option that women can choose to reduce their chances of getting pregnant after having unprotected sex or experiencing contraceptive failure. Emergency contraception has been available for more than 30 years and is a safe and effective method of contraception. Plan B is not the same thing as the abortion pill, and the morning-after pill does not cause an abortion or affect an existing pregnancy.

Do you have more questions about emergency birth control such as the morning-after pill/Plan B?

Take our Emergency Contraception Quiz to learn important information and to see how much you know about emergency contraception - what it is, how to use it, and where you can get it from.

Start the Emergency Contraception Quiz!

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