Print Page E-mail Page Sidelines Pregnant pause By Amy Yannello Milk spills, computer files get lost, condoms break. Accidents happen, but pregnancy doesn't have to. So says Lorrie Harris-Sagaribay , program manager for Population Services International 's Sacramento branch, a nonprofit organization that specializes in reproductive health education. If taken within 72 hours of having unprotected sex, the pills are said to be 85 percent effective in preventing pregnancy. Yet a study conducted by PSI last year found that half of all women surveyed didn't know emergency contraception pills existed and that those who did weren't aware of how they could obtain them, Harris-Sagaribay reports.
Emergency contraception works by preventing a fertilized egg from implanting in the uterus.
Because emergency contraception is covered by Medi-Cal and other state programs, as well as by many HMOs, cost should not be a barrier to access, providers say. Here are some ways to get involved in your community.