Have you ever had to use the morning after pill?

According to new data released by the National Center for Health Statistics, 5.8 million women report that they have used the morning after pill on more than one occasion.  

The morning after pill, also known as Plan B, is form of back-up contraception that can help to prevent pregnancy from occurring if a couple’s first contraception method fails or if contraception is not used. Plan B works by releasing levonorgestrel which works to prevent pregnancy by halting the release of an egg from a woman’s ovary, or by preventing the sperm from fertilizing the egg. (Plan B is not an abortion pill and cannot end an existing pregnancy. It is currently available without a prescription but only to women over the age of 18.)

The statistics show that half of the women who used Plan B did so because they were worried their contraception method failed (i.e. they were worried the condom broke or they missed a birth control pill dose). The other half did so because they did not use contraception at all. The women who were most likely to use Plan B were women ages 20-24, women who were not married, and women who were college educated.

The data analysis is important because it helps us to know who is using the morning after pill, and why are they doing so. By learning these facts, the medical community can better understand and consider the issues that women face when it comes to preventing unwanted pregnancy.

For example, it is noteworthy that half of the women used Plan B along with their usual birth control method. This drives home the point that women need access to more effective and reliable birth control methods. Instead of using multiple methods of birth control to prevent pregnancy, women need one method that is safe, effective, and not harmful to their bodies or their sexual pleasure. (Or, their finances: Many forms of birth control can be incredibly expensive, especially if you don’t have insurance).

It’s clear that many women aren’t happy with the options available to them—almost 30% of women surveyed reported using five or more methods of birth control. The sad fact is that many birth control methods come with negative side effects that are very hard on a woman’s body (hormonal birth control pills can cause headaches, low libido and weight gain, and barrier methods such as the diaphragm can come with a large human-use error margin).

If you have ever struggled with similar uses, you might consider the IUC (intra-uterine contraceptive) method. The IUC is a small T-shaped device that is implanted into your uterus by your ob-gyn. IUCs prevent pregnancy by damaging or killing sperm before they reach the egg. Once implanted, IUCs are effective for anywhere from five to ten years, depending on the type you select. They come in hormonal or non-hormonal forms, and it does not impact your fertility once removed. (However, choosing the IUC is advisable only if you are in a monogamous relationship. If you contract an STD while you are using an IUC, the device could cause the STD to move into the uterus and potentially cause PID.)

The bottom line is that every woman is unique when it comes to her body and her birth control needs. While the morning after pill is a wonderful option for those times when your birth control fails, it really should be considered as a backup, not as your go-to method of preventing pregnancy. You might need to try a few different methods of contraception before you find the method that best works for you, and you should talk to your doctor about any questions or concerns you might have.

Remember, regardless of the birth control option you choose, the only way to prevent the spread of STDs is with the use of condoms and dental dams. Always practice safer sex to decrease your risk of STDs, and be sure to be tested for STDs regularly.