Women's Health

Articles/Brochures:

• Women's Health

• Emergency Contraception

• Preventing High Blood Pressure

• Staying Healthy in College

• Good News About Fiber

• The Darker Side of Tanning

• Family Planning Waiver Program

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Links:

The National Women’s Health Information Center (This site covers many women's health topics)

Pick Your Path to Health (Pick Your Path to Health helps women take simple and manageable steps to improve their health. There are themes and action steps, campaign resources, a community action kit, health articles, and community programs. There are also links to weekly health tips, the Office on Women’s Health, minority women’s health information, information for minority women with disabilities, and free campaign materials.)

College Women: Health Our Way (This site has been developed by Brandeis University college students for college students everywhere. It provides a portal to a wealth of health information resources)

Love Your Heart (Learn to love and protect your heart and learn what puts it at risk. Know the numbers for your indicators of heart health. Click on personal stories and read the stories of women of all ages, including young women.)

Healthy Pregnancy (Information on conception, pregnancy, childbirth and adoption)

EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION Plan B, also known as THE MORNING AFTER PILL

Highlights

• Emergency contraception is available at UHCS.
• Call 262 472-1300 for an appointment or if you've been to UHCS before, just stop during normal business hours
• Plan B can be obtained directly from UHCS
• The sooner you take Plan B after unprotected intercourse, the more effecive it is
• If you are 18 years old or over, you can purchase Plan B without a prescription at many pharmacies (see below)

What is Emergency Contraception (EC)?

Plan B (the most commonly used form of Emergency Contraception) is a medication used to prevent pregnancy after sexual intercourse has occurred.

• It is most effective if used as soon as possible, but can be used up to 5 days after unprotected sex.

• It works from 85 to 95 % of the time. It will not cause a miscarriage if you are already pregnant.

• Plan B contains progestin only and is very safe.

• Both pills may be taken at the same time, or 12 hours apart.
• There are other forms of emergency contraception.

When should Emergency Contraception be used?

If you’ve had sexual intercourse and:

• The condom breaks or was used incorrectly.
• You are not correctly using another form of contraception – ex. you missed taking birth control pills; your patch has fallen off and not replaced within 24 hours; or your ring was not reinserted on schedule – and you have unprotected sexual intercourse.
• You are new to using the pills, patch, ring, or injection and have used them for 7 days or less – and have unprotected sexual intercourse.
• Without any birth control.
• Improperly used your diaphragm.
• Forced sexual intercourse or rape.

How do the Emergency Contraception Pills work?

Although the exact way Plan B prevents pregnancy is uncertain, the most likely way is by preventing ovulation (the release of the egg by the ovary) or by preventing fertilization by the sperm. While considered less likely, it may prevent a fertilized egg being implanted in the uterus. It is not effective once implantation has begun.

What if I am already pregnant and don’t know it?

If you are already pregnant, Emergency Contraception will NOT harm the fetus. Plan B can only prevent a pregnancy. It cannot cause an abortion.

What else should I know about Emergency Contraception?

• You should not rely on it for regular birth control. It does not work as well as other methods of birth control.
• Plan B does not prevent sexually transmitted diseases.
• Plan B is unlikely to give you any side effects. Rare side effects include mild fatigue, nausea, or dizziness.
• Older forms of Emergency Contraception pills contained large amounts of estrogen and caused nausea/vomiting in many women. Plan B only contains progesterone which lessens the chance of feeling nauseated or vomiting.
• After taking Plan B, your period may be early or late by 7 days. If you do not have a normal period within this time frame, call UHCS at 472 1300 for an appointment.
• If you do not have a normal period within 21 days after taking Plan B, call UHCS at 472 1300 for an appointment.

Emergency Contraception (Plan B) Summary:

• Safe. Side effects are minimal.
• Prevents pregnancy.
• Works best if taken as soon as possible.
• Should not replace regular birth control.
• Does not prevent sexually transmitted infections.
• Does not cause abortion.
• Available at UHCS.

How can I obtain Emergency Contraception (Plan B) at UHCS?

• Ask your health care provider at a routine appointment for a prescription that you can fill if you need it.
• Unprotected sex? Call UHCS at 472 1300 and get an appointment ASAP.
• The approximate cost of Plan B at UHCS is $15.00*
  *Charges are subject to change without notice.

What pharmacies carry emergency contraception?

If you are 18 or over you will not need a prescription to obtain emergency contraception at many pharmacies. Call ahead to verify that the pharmacy has Plan B available over the counter (without prescription) and in stock.

Whitewater

Reynolds Pharmacy
175 W. Main Street
Telephone: 262 473-6116

Walmart Pharmacy
1362 W. Main St.
262-473-7740

Fort Atkinson

ShopKo
1425 Janesville Avenue
Telephone: 920 563-9351

Walgreens
300 N. Main St.
920-568-9326

The following are resources available to you:

UHCS Triage Nurse at 262 472 1300 x 2211.

Emergency Contraception Hotline
Call toll-free: 1-888-NOT-2-LATE Or visit the website: www.not-2-late.com (UHCS is listed as a provider)

Visit: www.getthepill.com - Online prescriptions for emergency contraception and birth control pills.

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This site is not meant to replace the advice of a health care or counseling professional. You should not rely on any information on these pages, or information generated for you by this site, to replace consultations with qualified professionals regarding your own specific situation.

Some links take you to a source outside of UHCS. The owners of that site, not UHCS, are responsible for the content.

For health care questions, do not email, please call 262-472-1300 menu option 4

Updated: 07/21/2008

  University Health & Counseling Services
For Comments on website: brueggek@uww.edu