Reproductive Care Kits

Emergency contraception pills (also known as the morning after pill) can be used to prevent pregnancy when taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex or if your birth control method fails, such as a condom breaking/slipping off or forgetting to take a birth control pill. Some common brand names of emergency contraception (EC) are Plan B, Econtra, My Way, Julie, and Preventeza.

EC that you can buy at a pharmacy or drug store that does not require a prescription is called “over-the-counter” or OTC EC. Brands like Plan B, Econtra, My Way, Julie, and Preventeza are available without a prescription. Ella, another brand that is effective up to 120 hours after unprotected sex, is only available via prescription.

Intrauterine devices or IUDs can also be used as EC if you are able to have one placed by a clinical provider within 5 days of unprotected sex.

For all EC pills, the sooner you take them after unprotected sex, the more effective they are. EC should be taken within three days (72 hours) of unprotected sex.

Your weight may impact how effective EC is for you. If you weigh more than 165 pounds, over-the-counter EC pills like the one in your kit may be less effective. Ella, which is prescription-only emergency contraception, is effective up to a weight of 195 pounds. IUDs are the only emergency contraception options where effectiveness is not impacted by your weight. That said, taking EC will still lower your chances of pregnancy, just not quite as much as it would for someone who weighs less.

If you have questions about what EC is right for you, you should consult with a medical provider.

No, EC cannot cause an abortion. EC works to prevent pregnancy before it occurs. If you are already pregnant, EC will not work. And if you take EC before you know you’re pregnant, it won’t hurt you or the pregnancy.

No, studies have confirmed that taking two pills will not change the effectiveness of the morning-after pill, even for those with higher BMIs.

No. There is no age requirement to get over-the-counter EC. People of any age or gender can purchase over-the-counter EC pills wherever they are available.

Examples of drugs or herbal products that could decrease the effectiveness of emergency contraception pills include barbiturates, bosentan, carbamazepine, felbamate, griseofulvin, oxcarbazepine, phenytoin, rifampin, St. John’s wort, topiramate, and certain HIV/AIDS medications. Contact your healthcare professional before taking EC if you have any concerns or are taking any of these medications.

EC is safe and side effects are not common, However, you may get a headache, upset stomach, feel light-headed or dizzy, or have tender breasts for a short while after taking EC.

If you throw up within two hours of taking the pill, it will not work and you’ll need to take it again. Additionally, your next period may be different from what you are used to. It may come earlier or later, and be heavier, lighter, or more spotty.

Yes, latex condoms (like the ones in this kit) are the only type of birth control that also helps protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs). They do this by covering the penis, which prevents contact between semen and vaginal fluids, and limits skin-to-skin contact that can spread sexually transmitted infections. So even if you’re using another form of birth control, it’s a good idea to also use condoms.

If you use condoms correctly every single time you have sex, they’re 98% effective at preventing pregnancy. But many people don’t use condoms correctly every single time, so in reality condoms are about 87% effective at preventing pregnancy.

Condoms are over 90% effective at preventing some STI’s, such as gonorrhea, chlamydia, hepatitis B, and HIV. Some other STI’s, such as syphilis and HPV, are passed through skin-to-skin contact, so condoms may not protect against these.

As noted above, when you use condoms correctly, they are 98% effective at preventing pregnancy. Here’s how you can use a condom correctly to make sure it’s as effective as possible:

1. Open the condom carefully. Do not use your teeth or scissors.
2. Pinch the tip of the condom to create a gap, and place it on the tip of the hard penis. Make sure it’s on the right way: the rim (rolled part at the base) should be on the outside.
3. Roll it down over your penis to the base of your shaft while still holding the tip.
4. If you would like to, apply a water-based lubricant. Do not use oil-based lubricants as these can make it more likely for the condom to tear.
5. If you feel the condom break at any point during sexual activity, stop immediately. Remove the broken condom and put on a new one.
6. After sex, while the penis is still hard, hold onto the rim of the condom along the base of your shaft before pulling out. This helps prevent the condom from leaking or rolling down.
7. Throw away the condom.

A few other things to keep in mind:

• Only use one condom at a time, as using two can cause the condoms to break
• Never reuse a condom
• Check the expiration date before using
• Condoms should be stored at room temperature, out of direct sunlight, and should not be stored long-term in a place that experiences friction (i.e. a pocket or wallet)

For more information, visit: https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/birth-control/condom/how-to-put-a-condom-on

The best lubricant for vaginal or anal sex with a latex condom is water-based or silicone-based lube (we include water-based lube in these kits). Oil-based lubes (or any other oil products like petroleum jelly or mineral oil) should not be used with latex condoms, as they may cause them to break.

You can use the tests provided in this kit up to five days before your missed period, though an early negative does not rule out a pregnancy. If you test before a missed period, wait 48 hours and test again.

1. It is best to use this test the first time you need to pee in the morning, since this pee has the highest concentration of the pregnancy hormone (hcg). 
2. Pee into the provided cup. 
3. Dip the test strip into the urine for five seconds. Don’t dip it past the “max” line.
4. Lay the strip flat. 
5. Read the results in five minutes. Do not read the results before or after five minutes. 
6. How to interpret the results: Two lines mean the test is positive, and you are pregnant. Even a faint second line indicates a positive test. One line means the test is negative and you are not pregnant. 

For more information visit: https://www.pregmate.com/pages/pregnancy-test-strips-instructions-for-use

No matter what you were expecting to see on the test, a positive test can feel overwhelming. If you want to talk to someone about how you’re feeling or need support in deciding what to do next, a great resource is the All-Options Talkline. Their trained peer-counselors will listen and help you think through potential next steps.

If you know you do not want to continue the pregnancy, please reach out to MAAP using our application for support. We’re here to help you navigate your next steps!

If you know you do want to continue your pregnancy, schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider. They can confirm the pregnancy and make sure that you’re getting all the care you need. If you’re low-income and do not have a current provider, you may be able to access low-cost or free care at a federally qualified healthcare center (FQHC). You can find your local FQHC here to see what services they offer.