What Are Morning After Pills?

Morning after pills are used to prevent unwanted pregnancies in the event of a failure of your primary birth control method. For example, if you use condoms, you can take a morning after pill if a condom breaks. It is most effective when taken within 12 hours of birth control failure. However, it may be used up to 72 hours after unprotected sex.

When you watch this video, you’ll hear a gynecologist explain the morning after pill. She emphasizes that it is not intended to be a primary method of birth control and should only be used in the event of failure of your usual birth control method. This gynecologist also recommends that women who only use condoms keep a morning after pill in their medicine cabinet in case a condom fails.

Washington Surgi-Clinic is a women’s health clinic in Washington, D.C. that offers a full range of gynecology services , including birth control and abortions. Women throughout Maryland and Virginia can reach us at (202) 683-7336.