Cornell
Now That You’ve Purchased
Health
Emergency Contraception (EC)
Live Well to
Learn Well
Web:
health.cornell.edu
Phone (24/7):
607-255-5155
Fax:
607-255-0269
Appointments:
Monday–Saturday
Check web for hours,
services, providers,
and appointment
information
110 Ho Plaza,
Ithaca, NY
14853-3101
What is EC?
You may have purchased Emergency
Contracepon (EC) for a variety of reasons,
including contracepve failure and unplanned sex.
Below is some important informaon that may
apply to you, or to someone you know, including a
partner or friend.
Considerations
• EC is a safe opon for nearly anyone who has
had intercourse that would place them at risk
for an undesired pregnancy.
• EC does not protect against sexually
transmied infecons (STI). If you have
concerns about being exposed to an STI, please
speak with a Cornell Health nurse by phone
(607-255-5155, available 24/7) or in-person.
• EC will not provide pregnancy protecon
against future unprotected intercourse.
• EC is helpful in reducing risk of pregnancy aer
unprotected intercourse, but is not as eecve
as other methods of contracepon.
• If you do not already use regular birth control
(e.g., oral contracepve pills, condoms,
etc.) and you have sex that may result in an
undesired pregnancy, consider talking with
a sexual health nurse about birth control
opons. Request an appointment via phone
(607-255-5155), online via myCornellHealth, or
by vising us during business hours. This free
appointment can help you decide what might
work best for you.
• If you are currently using oral contracepve
(birth control) pills:
– And you have taken a progesn-only EC (e.g.,
Plan B, next choice): Restart your birth control pills
the day aer you take EC. Use a backup method
(such as condoms) or do not have vaginal sex,
unl you have taken seven pills in a row.
– And you have taken Ella (ulipristal acetate):
Restart your birth control pills 5 days aer you
take Ella. Use a back-up method unl you have
nished the pack of birth control pills.
• Birth control and safer sex supplies (e.g.,
condoms, spermicides) are available in the
pharmacy at Cornell Health.
Instructions
Take EC by mouth as soon as possible aer
unprotected intercourse. The longer the interval
between unprotected intercourse and EC, the less
eecve it will be. EC is most eecve if taken
within 24 hours of unprotected intercourse.
Take EC by mouth as soon as possible aer
unprotected intercourse
The manufacturer’s instrucons suggest the pill be
taken within 72 hours for maximum eecveness;
however EC can be taken up to 5 days (120 hours)
aer intercourse with some benet.
• You may experience a change in your
menstrual cycle aer the use of Emergency
Contracepon. Your period may start a few
days earlier or later than usual. If you do not
get your period within three weeks of taking
EC, a pregnancy test is recommended.
• You may experience minor side eects like
nausea. If you vomit within one hour of taking
EC, call Cornell Health to speak with a nurse
(607-255-5155). Although this is not a serious
health problem, you may need to repeat the
dose of EC.
Unwanted/forced sexual contact
If the need for EC is due to an unwanted or forced
sexual encounter, we are available to talk with
you, provide care, and oer support.
• Cornell Health sta members are available
by phone 24/7 and can provide informaon
to survivors of sexual assault. We can oer
condenal medical care and advocacy services
to help you decide what you need, and what
support networks would be most helpful.
• You may benet from being examined for
physical injury and infecon aer an assault.
Post-assault medical treatment and support
are available at Cornell Health by calling
607-255-5155.
• Cornell Vicm Advocates can oer support,
resources, judicial and legal informaon, and
assistance regarding academic pressures. The
service is free and condenal. Call 607-255-
1212 to schedule an appointment.
•
•
Professional in-person counseling and
group support are available through
Cornell Health. Call 607-255-5155.
If there is any chance you may consider
criminal acon or want to keep that
opon open, seek medical care at
Cayuga Medical Center (CMC), located
at 101 Dates Drive in Ithaca, as soon
as possible. (If seeking this care
immediately, do not bathe, shower,
douche or change clothes before you
go.) The Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner
(SANE) Program at CMC provides
specially-trained nurses who oer
care and treatment to survivors of
Alcohol and EC
If your use of alcohol or other drugs (AOD)
played a role in your need for EC and/or
you would like to explore your AOD use in
a non-judgmental, supporve seng, call
Cornell Health and ask to be connected
with one of our BASICS providers
(607-255-5155) for a free and confidential
appointment (health.cornell.edu/basics).
For more information
Read the booklet included in the EC
package for more detailed informaon.
• Visit: not-2-late.com
assault. To access the SANE Program,
call the Advocacy Center’s 24 hour
hotline (607-277-5000) or call the CMC
Emergency Department (607-274-
4411) before leaving for CMC.
• More informaon about sexual assault
is on our website: health.cornell.edu
and at SHARE.cornell.edu
health.cornell.edu
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