Its an Emergency

Regardless of the risks of getting pregnant or even getting a sexually transmitted disease many college students and others in all age groups particpate in unprotected sexual intercourse.  Unfortunately, this has led to one third of woman between the ages of 18 and 24 that attend a 4-year institution getting pregnant. 

However, thanks to emergency contraceptives, the number of unintended births has declined steadily in the last decade. 
Emergency contraceptives are hormonal based product that are able to prevent pregnancies up to 5 days after unprotected sex.  There are two forms of the contraceptive available to woman.  The most common form is the pill, which is also known as the "morning after" pill, and it is taken orally right after unprotected intercourse.

Emergency contraceptives were designed not as a birth control method but to prevent possible pregnancies.  Reasons to take an emergency contraceptive include if a condom broke during sex, or if  regular birth control was not taken, or forgotten, around the time of sexual intercourse.     

The second form of emergency contraceptives available to woman is the Copper-T intrauterine device.  This device can be instered by a doctor or trained clinician and is more effective than the pill.  It reduces the risk of becoming pregnant by 99%.  Another advantage of having the Copper-T device inserted is that it can be left in for up to ten years and can be used as a regular birth control. 

Emergency contraceptives are easily accessible and affordable.  On average the cost is $10 to $70.  They can be purchased from numerous places, including local Planned Parenthood facilities.  At these facilities they try to keep costs down to a minimum for woman and sometimes contraceptives can be purchased cheaper than the average cost.  Other places that have the "morning after" pill for purchase are local drug stores, and to students, Sac State's health center. 

Some have said that woman are becoming too dependent on emergency contraceptives as a birth control method.  There are even numerous women that take the emergency contraceptive even though more than likely they would not have become pregnant.  Overall it is best to be safe than sorry. 

However, if this form of pregnancy prevention was not available there would be many more people that would have children that they did not plan for and therefore not ready for.  Also, accidents happen and emergency contraceptives serve their purpose as pregnancy prevention.  This does not mean that people should not deal with consequences of their actions but that they should be careful and understand that sexual intercourse is a serious matter.   

Regardless of how easy it is use emergency contraceptives as a last-minute prevention to pregnancy woman should know that it should not be used as alternative to regular birth control.  It is called "emergency" contraceptives for a reason.  Also, using an external form of birth control such as a condom is still important because emergency contraceptives are not as effective in pregnancy prevention, nor do they protect against STDs.