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Emergency
contraceptive pills, taken as soon as possible within 72 hours
of sexual intercourse, prevent pregnancy by delaying or preventing
ovulation (the release of an egg). The most common emergency
contraception regimen uses progestin and estrogen (levonorgestrel
and ethinyl estradiol), which are the same hormones used in
birth control pills.
Emergency
contraception works the same way birth control pills do to
prevent pregnancy.
However,
emergency contraception should be used responsibly. It is
not a replacement for the use of regular contraception. It
is an important "back-up" method.
Emergency
contraception is not an "abortion pill" and will
not harm an existing pregnancy.
Like
all birth control pills, emergency contraceptive pills do
not protect the user against infection from the HIV virus,
which causes AIDS, or other sexually transmitted diseases.
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