4 Sarasota area waterfront restaurants make best Florida list
YOUR-VOICE

Let's dispel the myths about emergency contraception

Kira-Lynn Ferderber
Kira-Lynn Ferderber

As a local sexual health educator, I hear all kinds of questions. Asking about something as personal as sex can make people feel silly, shy or even scared. I’m honored to be privy to our neighbors’ more intimate inquiries, and one of the most common questions I hear is this one: “What is the morning-after pill all about?”

Many of us grew up without this amazing option and are more familiar with contraception used before intercourse, such as “the pill." Birth control pills, shots, patches, IUDs, condoms and other methods used in advance are the best Plan A to avoid pregnancy when having sex.

But have you heard of Plan B? That’s one name for emergency contraception, which is also known as "the morning-after pill." It works best when taken soon after sex, and it can be effective when used up to three or five days later.

There are many reasons people use emergency contraception. Condoms work well but can occasionally break or fall off, especially if they are expired or used incorrectly. Sometimes people realize they forgot to take their regular birth control but still don’t want to get pregnant. We know comprehensive sex education and accessible contraception make it more likely someone will use pregnancy prevention during sex, but when an accident happens, emergency contraception can play a critical role.

Attempts to deceive

Unfortunately, there is a concerted effort by fake clinics and non-medical professionals in our community to deceive women about how emergency contraception will affect them. In addition to these disinformation campaigns that intentionally mislead the public, I hear myths repeated by people who don’t realize they are spreading inaccuracies about emergency contraception. 

A vending machine that dispenses emergency contraception pills, commonly known as morning-after pills, was installed George Washington University's campus this month after a student-led effort to make the pills more accessible.

It’s important you know the truth: emergency contraception is safe, widely used and doesn’t affect fertility long-term. It works by delaying ovulation and preventing pregnancy from starting. Some pregnancies still happen when emergency contraception is used – for example, if ovulation already occurred and the egg was fertilized quickly after sex.

In addition, emergency contraception can’t end an established pregnancy because it is not an abortion pill. Disinformation activists claim it is the same as abortion or causes miscarriage, but the evidence is clear: emergency contraception doesn’t end a pregnancy, though it can prevent one. It is birth control after the fact.    Brands like Plan B contain the same hormone common in birth control, but at a higher dose. The pills available over the counter are not proven effective for people who weigh more than 165 pounds, but Planned Parenthood has emergency contraception methods for people of all weights. 

Trying to scare women

Disinformation campaigns try to control you with fear, and they want us to be scared of contraception.

My life’s work has been preventing and responding to sexual violence, and I know how common it is for victims to struggle with shame. Emergency contraception is vitally needed by sexual assault survivors who are hoping to prevent pregnancy. The last thing survivors need when healing from trauma is to be further shamed for accessing health care.   Whatever your reason for using emergency contraception, feel proud of yourself for making the healthiest choice for you.  Visit MyPlannedParenthood.org or call 941-567-3800 to make an appointment or to get answers on emergency contraception and other questions.

In Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto counties, private funders have stepped up to provide funding for people seeking contraception. With support from the community, we are able to provide contraception – including emergency contraception and IUDs – free of charge to those who are uninsured or underinsured.

Kira-Lynn Ferderber is the outreach educator and community liaison for Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida. The organization will hold its spring dinner on Thursday, March 9, in the Municipal Auditorium. Visit SarasotaDinner.givesmart.com for details.