Emergency contraception: Pros and cons
By Mayo Clinic staffEmergency contraception shouldn't be a substitute for regular use of safe and effective birth control. But unplanned and unprotected sex do occur, so emergency contraception fills an important need. Keep the following points in mind:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| If it's used soon enough, emergency contraception offers reassurance to couples whose conventional methods of birth control fail. | It's necessary to start emergency contraceptive pills within three days of unprotected intercourse to be effective. |
| Compared with the medical costs that an unintended pregnancy would incur, emergency contraception is highly cost-effective. | It offers no protection against STDs, including HIV. |
