Things happen. Condoms break. You realize your birth control patch has come off. $%#&
Emergency contraception is available at most drug stores on the South Shore. If you cannot pay for your dose, we will support you in getting it for free at a pharmacy of your choice. Just get in touch and we will try to get back to you as soon as possible. We will fund the purchase of a generic brand of emergency contraception so you can just pick it up at your local pharmacy. Contact us for more details.
However, we are sometimes closed. We definitely recommend buying a dose ahead of time to keep in a safe place should you have an issue with birth control.
If you have experienced a sexual assault, you can receive emergency contraception for free at the hospital as part of your care 24/7. This service is available at the emergency rooms in Bridgewater and Lunenburg.
How store bought emergency contraception works
The morning after pill you buy at the drug store is a quick dose of hormones that aim to stop the ovary from releasing an egg for fertilization. No egg? No pregnancy.
It costs between $15-40. It is not an abortion pill because it cannot affect implantation or stop a pregnancy from continuing. It is only able to keep your body from releasing potential eggs. If you take emergency contraception after an egg has been released, it will not be able to stop the pregnancy. It also will not harm the pregnancy in any way, should you decide to carry the pregnancy to term.
Emergency contraception is thought to be incredibly safe with few side effects. Some people may get an upset tummy, but this can be handled with a dose of an anti-nauseant like Gravol (dimenhydrinate).Â
The downside is that it may not work as well if you have a larger body over 170/180 pounds. There are other options, including getting a copper IUD or a prescription for another form of emergency contraception. The barrier to these products is that they both require at least one health care appointment. The IUD requires an insertion appointment.
For more info, we recommend visiting this link.