What is emergency contraception?
Emergency contraception prevents pregnancy after unprotected sex by stopping or delaying ovulation—it does not end an existing pregnancy or affect fertility. The most accessible choice is over-the-counter morning-after pills like Julie, which are FDA-approved, legal everywhere, and require no prescription or ID. They work best within 72 hours (about 89% effective when taken quickly), but may be less effective with higher BMI. Other options include Ella and the IUD, which work up to five days after sex. EC is for emergencies only—not for regular birth control.
If you’re wanting to avoid pregnancy, emergency contraception is a safe and effective tool to use after having sex. As the name suggests, it is intended to be used for emergencies only — not as a regular form of birth control. Science is science and it’s simply not as reliable as pills, IUDs, and other forms of contraception.
Over-the-counter morning-after pills like Julie’s are the most convenient forms of emergency contraception. Both Plan B One-Step® and the Julie Morning After Pill™ have the same active ingredient — levonorgestrel — which is FDA-approved and legal in all 50 states. When used correctly, it can significantly reduce your chance of getting pregnant. The best part? Morning-after pills don’t require a prescription or an ID — ever.
What are other types of emergency contraception?
Repeat after us: Women deserve options. Beyond the Julie Morning After Pill, there are other types of emergency contraception available, but the catch is that they require a medical provider.
- Ella® is a prescription-only (at least in the US) emergency contraception pill that is a little more effective than OTC morning-after pills. It reduces the risk of pregnancy to 1.1% in those with a BMI under 30 and to 2.6% in those with a BMI over 30. Ella® can be taken up to five days after unprotected sex.
- Another option requiring an appointment is an intrauterine device (IUD). The IUD is a small t-shaped device that is inserted into the uterus by a trained healthcare professional. You might already know that it’s a very effective form of regular birth control, but it can also be used as emergency contraception if inserted within five days after unprotected sex. Pregnancy risk for all body sizes decreases to <1% when the IUD is used as emergency contraception.
When figuring out which form of emergency contraception is right for you, keep in mind that time is of the essence. All forms of emergency contraception are most effective when used as soon as possible, so your best option is the one you have quick and easy access to.
How does the morning-after pill work?
First of all, if you have unprotected sex, don’t panic — you are not automatically pregnant! In fact, pregnancy doesn’t happen nearly as fast as we think it does.
It actually takes up to three weeks to get pregnant with three key events that need to happen. First of all, an egg needs to be released from the ovary (ovulation). Then, a sperm has to swim and link up with the egg in the fallopian tube (fertilization). Finally, that egg-sperm combo has to find a spot on your uterine lining to implant and develop. Once it finds its landing spot — boom! — it’s the official start of pregnancy.
Morning-after pills like Julie’s and Plan B One-Step® use a medicine called levonorgestrel to block pregnancy from ever starting in the first place by temporarily halting ovulation. Think of it as pulling the emergency brakes on your ovaries so an egg can’t be released. Just remember that it’s only effective if taken before ovulation has started.
How effective is the morning-after pill?
An over-the-counter FDA-approved pill morning-after pill is 89% effective when taken within 72 hours after unprotected sex. The golden rule: The sooner you take it, the better it will work.
If you just had sex and you’re not sure whether you were completely protected, we recommend taking the morning-after pill as soon as possible. You can easily find the Julie Morning After Pill™ in store and online at Target, CVS, Walmart and Amazon or get it delivered now through GoPuff, UberEats, Instacart and Doordash. Find a store near you.
One thing to note: Weight does impact the effectiveness of the morning-after pill. If your BMI is over 25, levonorgestrel may not be the best option for you. Research, unfortunately, has no idea why. Options like Ella® are effective at higher BMIs, but it does require a prescription from your medical provider. The best overall form of emergency contraception is the IUD which is not affected by weight at all. That being said, it does need to be inserted by a healthcare professional within five days after having unprotected sex.
When do you use the morning-after pill?
Sex happens, duh. There’s countless reasons why you might find yourself needing to take the morning-after pill — and none of them should ever make you feel ashamed. Maybe a condom broke or you forgot to take your birth control pills for a few days. Julie is here to help no matter what. In fact, we have an extremely succinct and handy checklist to make the process even easier.
- Use the morning-after pill if:
- You didn’t use birth control.
- You missed 2-3 active birth control pills in a row.
- You and your partner only used the pull out method, especially during your fertile window.
- You had unprotected sex.
- The condom broke or came off.
Is the morning-after pill the abortion pill?
The answer is not at all. The morning-after pill is very different from the abortion pill. The morning-after pill prevents pregnancy from starting by pausing ovulation. On the other hand, the abortion pill ends an existing pregnancy. The morning-after pill simply cannot do that. If you’re already pregnant, the morning-after pill and its active ingredient levonorgestrel will not end the pregnancy or impact the fetus in any way. Remember, emergency contraception is a backup form of birth control and should not be used as regular birth control.
Will the morning-after pill affect your fertility?
The morning-after pill only stops ovulation short-term. When you take it after unprotected sex, it reduces your chance of getting pregnant by almost 90% . When you start a new cycle next month, you’ll go through a brand new ovulation phase, which is a new opportunity to get pregnant. If you’re planning on having babies in the future, rest assured that your chances of getting pregnant won’t be affected by the Julie Morning After Pill™.
Is the morning-after pill like Julie’s safe?
Yes! The morning-after pill is safe and effective when taken as directed. Millions of women have used these pills to prevent pregnancy for decades. The Julie Morning After Pill™ does not affect your fertility, but there are a few different side effects that are common, like changes in your period, nausea, lower stomach pain, fatigue, headaches, dizziness, and breast tenderness. Morning-after pills have been tested and approved by the FDA and are legal and available in all 50 states. While the morning-after pill is safe, it’s important to remember that it does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases.
While we love to share useful and helpful information, the above shouldn’t replace the advice of your healthcare professional. For questions about birth control and other women’s health issues, please talk to your doctor.
Julie wants to keep young women in the driver’s seat of their own stories and provide them with the tools necessary for a happy, healthy sex life.
We know (and have lived!) through the ups and downs of young adulthood firsthand, and we aim to normalize the events, conversations, and questions that come during this period to help destigmatize sexual health. We believe women should live life with total freedom — starting with their ability to choose how, when, and if they become pregnant.
We know that women can make the best choices for themselves when equipped with the right information. We don’t take sexual education lightly and are committed to sharing accurate and factual information through rigorous planning and QA processes. In fact, all Julie content is reviewed by at least two board-certified doctors on our medical board. Learn more about them here.
For more details on our editorial process, see here.
Tessa Commers, MD, FAAP, MS is a board-certified pediatrician based in the Seattle area with a particular interest in adolescent health and sexual education. In addition to clinical practice and serving as Head of Medical at Julie, Tessa also founded AskDoctorT — an education platform with over a million followers across Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube — aimed at improving adolescent health literacy and body confidence. She also hosted and wrote the puberty podcast “That’s Totally Normal!” and has contributed to peer-reviewed publications and educational initiatives focused on child and adolescent wellbeing.
Education: Children’s Mercy Hospital, Kansas City – Pediatric Residency; University of Nebraska Medical Center – Doctor of Medicine (MD); University of Nebraska Medical Center – Master of Science (MS, Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy); New York University – Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Cordelia Nwankwo, MD, FACOG is a native of Dallas, Texas. She graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering. She then earned her medical degree from The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School. Dr. Nwankwo completed her training in Obstetrics and Gynecology at UT Southwestern Medical Center and Parkland Hospital. She currently is in private practice in Washington, DC. Dr. Nwankwo’s goal as a provider is to make sure every patient feels heard and able to achieve optimal health.
Education: UT Southwestern Medical School – Doctor of Medicine (MD); Texas A&M – Bachelor of Science (BS)
