Sexual Assault Resource Center

What is emergency contraception (or emergency birth control)?

Emergency contraception, or emergency birth control, is used to help keep a woman from getting pregnant after she has had unprotected sex (sex without using birth control).

Use emergency contraception if:

• You didn’t use birth control
• You were forced to have sex
• He didn’t pull out in time
• You missed two or more birth control pills in a row
• You were late getting your shot