Birth Control

Over-the-counter EC pill

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What is the over-the-counter emergency contraception pill? Over-the-counter emergency contraception might be right for you if... How do you use over-the-counter emergency contraception? How much does over-the-counter emergency contraception cost? What are the side effects and benefits of over-the-counter emergency contraception? Where can you get over-the-counter emergency contraception?

What is the over-the-counter emergency contraception pill?

Better known by the brand name Plan B or as “the morning-after pill,” over-the-counter emergency contraception (EC) is an easy-to-get medication containing the hormone levonorgestrel. It works to prevent pregnancy by delaying ovulation when it’s taken within five days (120 hours) after having unprotected sex, but it is more effective the sooner you take it.

You don’t need a prescription to get it, and anyone, no matter how old you are or your gender, can get it at drugstores, at grocery stores, in vending machines, at health centers, online, and from many other places.

While this type of emergency contraception is the easiest kind to get your hands on, it’s not the best option for everyone. Over-the-counter emergency contraception may not be as effective for people who weigh 165 pounds or more. (If that’s you, don’t worry—there are other options.)

Quick Facts

Not the most effective kind of emergency contraception, but easy to get. The sooner you take it the very good. Good for people who weigh up to 165.

Effectiveness

The over-the-counter emergency contraception pill is the least effective kind of emergency contraception. Both the prescription-only EC pill (ella) and the IUD as emergency contraception are more effective.

Perfect use: Not enough data

Typical use: Not enough data

What are perfect use and typical use?
Hormones

Over-the-counter emergency contraception contains the hormone progestin.
Side effects

Temporary changes to your period, nausea, vomiting, breast soreness, dizziness, and headache.
Cost

Around $25 to $50.
STI protection

Over-the-counter EC doesn’t protect against STIs.
Ongoing effort

The number of pills you take depends on the brand of over-the-counter EC you use. Once you’re done with the pill regimen though, there’s no more work for you to do.

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Over-the-counter emergency contraception might be right for you if...

Something went wrong with your usual birth control method.

If the condom broke, your partner didn’t pull out in time, or you forgot to take your pill, insert your ring, or apply your patch—or if there was anything else that went wrong with your birth control method—you may want to use EC.

You weren’t using any birth control at the time you had sex.

If you didn’t use any protection during sex and don’t want to get pregnant right now, the over-the-counter EC pill might be for you—as long as it’s been five days (120 hours) or fewer since you had unprotected sex.

You didn’t consent to sex.

If you’ve been raped or coerced by someone who refused to use contraception, and you don’t want to get pregnant, the over-the-counter EC pill might be for you. (And if you need support, you can call or chat with RAINN, a 24/7 free, confidential national sexual assault hotline.)

You’re looking for EC you can get without seeing a health care provider.

The over-the-counter emergency contraception pill is available without a prescription, so you don’t need to see a provider to get it. You can just get it right off the shelf at drugstores, grocery stores, and health centers, or you can get it online.

It’s proven to be effective in people at your weight.

Studies have shown that the over-the-counter EC pill works best for people who weigh less than 165 pounds. Which leaves out a lot of people. If you weigh 165 pounds or more, you can still take the over-the-counter EC pill (like Plan B), but it may be less effective. The prescription EC pill (sold under the brand name ella) may be a more effective option as long as you weigh less than 195 pounds. If you weigh 195 pounds or more, the IUD is going to be your best bet. In fact, no matter how much you weigh, the IUD is the most effective form of emergency contraception.

How do you use over-the-counter emergency contraception?

The hormone in the over-the-counter EC pill, levonorgestrel, delays ovulation to prevent pregnancy from starting. If you don’t ovulate, there’s no egg available for sperm to fertilize. But it’s important to take over-the-counter EC as soon as possible after having unprotected sex. The sooner you take it, the more effective it is at preventing pregnancy. The over-the-counter EC pill is not as effective as the prescription-only EC pill (ella), and neither kind of EC pill is as effective as getting an IUD as EC.

Plan B One-Step, Next Choice One Dose, and My Way each consist of just one pill that you take as soon as possible after unprotected sex. Next Choice and generic levonorgestrel are both two-pill formulas (each pill has half the amount of hormones as the one-dose options). The instructions say to take one pill right away and the second 12 hours later, but research shows you can also take both pills at the same time. If you do take both pills at the same time, you may have more nausea than you would if you spaced them out.

How much does over-the-counter emergency contraception cost?

With insurance

If you have insurance, you can check to see if they’ll cover over-the-counter EC. They’ll likely require that you get a prescription, which means you would have to see or talk to a provider (or a pharmacist depending on where you live) to get it. Because of that, you may have to wait a little longer to take it, but if cost is an issue and you can get ahold of your health care provider ASAP, it’s worth looking into.

Without insurance

Over-the-counter EC pills are sold without a prescription at CVS, Target, Walgreens, Walmart, and many other stores and pharmacies, both in-store and online. There are also lots of telehealth providers who sell over-the-counter emergency contraception. Prices can range from around $25 to $50.

What are the side effects and benefits of over-the-counter emergency contraception?

There are positive and negative things to say about each and every method. And everyone’s different—so what you experience may not be the same as what someone else experiences.

The Positive

There are many things about the over-the-counter emergency contraception pill that are good for your body as well as your sex life. Here are some of the benefits of the over-the-counter emergency contraception pill:

Offers protection from pregnancy and peace of mind after unprotected sex
Easier to get than other types of EC

The Negative

If you do experience negative side effects with over-the-counter EC, they’ll probably go away within 24 hours. Here are some potential side effects with over-the-counter EC:

Nausea
Vomiting
Cramps
Fatigue
Headache
Dizziness
Breast tenderness
Changes to your period (lighter, heavier, early, or late)

In addition to possible side effects, over-the counter EC has a couple of disadvantages:

Not as effective as other forms of EC.
Less effective in people who weigh 165 pounds or more.

Where can you get over-the-counter emergency contraception?

In person

You can pick up over-the-counter EC at drugstores, grocery stores, and you can also get it online. You can also visit a health center to get EC, which is a great option if you’re looking to pay less, because many health centers offer lower-cost EC to those who qualify.

Online

It’s easier than ever to get birth control online—including over-the-counter EC. Find out what’s available where you live.