Emergency contraception is a way of preventing pregnancy after sex.
More commonly referred to as the morning after pill, EC is post-coital hormonal contraception for use when another contraceptive method fails or no contraception was used. EC involves taking a certain dosage regimen of COCs or levonorgestrel-only pills within 72 hours after unprotected intercourse. EC is not abortion and is not an abortion pill, nor is it an effective contraceptive for on-going use. Put simply, if a woman is already pregnant when she takes EC, the pregnancy will not be disrupted. Like other contraceptives, EC offers another way to prevent unwanted pregnancies, and thereby reduce demand for abortion.