Alternative Emergency Contraception Methods and Purchasing Options

Plan B alternatives include Ella (ulipristal acetate), copper intrauterine device (IUD), and combined hormonal birth control pills. Plan B, also known as the 'morning-after pill.' It uses a hormone called levonorgestrel to inhibit ovulation and prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex.

Drug retailers saw a drastic increase in demand for emergency contraceptives like Plan B after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. This well-known drug isn't the only form of emergency contraception out there. Other levonorgestrel pills, such as Aftera, Next Choice, Take Action, and AfterPill, are also alternatives to Plan B.

Ella is available as a single tablet that you take orally. This pill prevents pregnancy by delaying ovulation. Ella also affects the endometrium, or the inner tissue layer of the uterus. It makes the endometrium hostile to sperm.

Keep in mind that Ella can interact with several medications. Talk to a healthcare provider if you take medications that treat epilepsy, fungal infections, or tuberculosis.

Effectiveness: Ella can prevent pregnancy for up to five days after unprotected sex. It reduces the rate of pregnancy to 9 in 1,000 (or 0.9%) when you take it within 24 hours of unprotected sex. Ella may be less effective in people with a body mass index (BMI) of more than 30.

What it costs: It depends on your health insurance (if you have it), but Ella typically costs around $67 out of pocket. The pill is free with health insurance coverage.

Where to buy: You'll need to visit a healthcare provider for this type of emergency contraception. Ella is only available by prescription.

Plan B One-Step, Aftera, Next Choice, Take Action, and AfterPill are available in oral tablet form. They contain levonorgestrel, a type of progestin. Progestin is a hormone that prevents the release of an egg from the ovary and the fertilization of the egg by sperm.

Instructions for each medication vary by brand. You'll generally take a tablet by mouth as soon as possible after unprotected sex.

Effectiveness: These medications can lower your risk of getting pregnant by 89% if you take them within three days of unprotected sex. Levonorgestrel pills are 'moderately effective' when taken within five days. These options, like Ella, may be less effective in people who have a BMI of more than 30.

What it costs: Prices vary by brand. The retail price of Plan B One-Step and similar levonorgestrel tablets is about $20 to $50 out of pocket.

Where to buy: These medications don't require a prescription and are usually available over the counter. You can typically find them on shelves at your local pharmacy or big box chain.

Paragard is a copper IUD, which is a T-shaped device that's inserted into the vagina. It's hormone-free and prevents pregnancy for up to 10 years. The copper IUD prevents pregnancy by making sperm less able to fertilize the egg.

A healthcare provider must insert a copper IUD within five days of unprotected sex. You can use the IUD for long-term birth control and have it removed any time you want to become pregnant.

Paragard doesn't have a weight limit, so it works the same in every body. Keep in mind that it's not the most comfortable method of emergency contraception. Insertion can be painful, especially if you've never given birth.

Effectiveness: Paragard is one of the most effective forms of emergency contraception. It's been shown to prevent pregnancy 99.9% of the time.

What it costs: A copper IUD is free if you have health insurance and are in-network. It costs up to $1,300 out of pocket.

Where to buy: You must visit a healthcare provider to receive and remove an IUD. It's one of the hardest forms of emergency contraception to access: Getting in to see someone quickly can be hard.

Combined hormonal birth control pills contain both estrogen and progestin. People often use them as a daily form of birth control. You can also use them as emergency contraception if a healthcare provider prescribes them in higher amounts.

You'll need to take combined hormonal birth control pills as soon as possible, up to five days after unprotected sex. The number of pills you'll need to take depends on the dosage. You may need to consult a healthcare provider to know how many pills to take.

Effectiveness: Combined hormone birth control pills are the least effective form of emergency contraception. Some evidence suggests that the failure rate is about 2% to 3.5%.

What it costs: It won't cost you anything if you have health insurance. The cost depends on the brand you use if you have coverage.

Where to buy: This can be an easy option to use if you already have a pack of combined hormonal birth control pills at home.

Call a healthcare provider if you need emergency contraception and are not sure what to do. They can offer personalized guidance. The sooner you act, the more effective emergency contraception is.

Here are some factors to consider before you choose a plan B alternative:

The Office on Women's Health (OWH) advises a more regular form of birth control if you're sexually active. Birth control includes condoms, hormonal birth control pills, patches, implants, rings, or an IUD. These options are generally more reliable and less expensive than emergency contraception.

A healthcare provider can help you decide what form of birth control may work best for you. Keep in mind that you'll need to wait five days to continue regular birth control if you take Ella. You can use birth control as normal if you use other types of emergency contraception.

Plan B, or the 'morning-after pill,' is a type of emergency contraception that prevents pregnancy after unprotected sex. Alternatives to Plan B include Ella, copper IUD, and combined hormonal birth control pills. Other levonorgestrel pills, like Plan B, are also available.

The effectiveness, cost, and side effects of these options vary. Health insurance largely covers the cost of birth control and emergency contraception. You may talk to a healthcare provider or pharmacist about the best option for you.