Julie Medical Advisor
What is emergency contraception & the morning-after pill?
What is emergency contraception?
When unprotected sex happens, we’re sometimes left wondering: could I get pregnant? If this is you, emergency contraception is a safe and effective way to prevent a pregnancy from starting since it’s taken after you had sex with your partner. It’s intended to be used for emergencies only—not as a regular form of birth control like condoms, birth control pills, and IUDs.
The morning-after pill—like Julie— is one of the most common and convenient forms of emergency contraception since it’s an over-the-counter pill found at pharmacies and stores like Walmart, nationwide. Both Plan B and Julie have the same ingredient—levonorgestrel—which is FDA-approved and legal in all 50 states. When used correctly, it can significantly reduce your chance of getting pregnant. It doesn’t require a prescription, ID, or credit card, and can be purchased easily by anyone (you, your partner, your friend, or the nice guy from Instacart).
Other types of emergency contraception.
Because we deserve options. Beyond Julie, there are other types of emergency contraception available, like the copper IUD. The copper IUD is a small t-shaped piece of plastic with copper coils that’s inserted into the uterus by a healthcare professional. You might already know that it’s a very effective form of regular birth control, but it can also be used as emergency contraception if inserted within 5 days after unprotected sex. Studies have shown the pregnancy rate of people with an IUD is .1%. The one caveat is that you do need to get an appointment with a medical provider on the fly, which isn’t always easy. Since time is of the essence when you’re trying to protect yourself against pregnancy after unprotected sex, the morning-after pill (like Julie) is a much faster, convenient, and affordable option.
Speaking of time—it’s important to take the morning-after pill as soon as you’re able. The pill is most effective when taken within 72 hours (3 days), but the sooner you take it the better.
How the morning-after pill works
First of all, if you have unprotected sex, don’t panic—you are not automatically pregnant. In fact, pregnancy doesn’t happen nearly as fast as we think it does.
It actually takes up to 2-3 weeks to get pregnant. And three key things need to happen: an egg needs to be released from the ovary (ovulation), a sperm has to swim and link up with the egg in the fallopian tube (fertilization), and then that egg-sperm combo has to find a spot on your uterine lining to hang out and develop. Once it finds its landing spot, that’s when pregnancy officially starts.
The morning-after pill, like Julie and Plan B, uses a medicine called levonorgestrel to block this process in two different ways:
Prevent ovulation by stopping the egg from being released
- Every month, the hormones that control your menstrual cycle get one of your eggs prepped and ready to leave your ovary. Once released, the egg floats through your fallopian tube, which takes about 12 to 24 hours. If you just had unprotected sex, it might meet up with the sperm. But if you haven’t ovulated yet, the morning-after pill temporarily puts the emergency brakes on your ovaries so an egg can’t be released.
Prevent fertilization by causing sperm to not reach the egg
- Sperm are super tiny. Like microscopically tiny. When your partner ejaculates during unprotected sex, they release millions of sperm, and it only takes one to fertilize an egg. Those sperm can swim up through your cervix, uterus, and into your fallopian tubes. They’ll hang around for six days waiting to meet up with an egg. The morning-after pill may also work by preventing the sperm from ever meeting up with the egg— in other words, they get stood up. Sorry sperm.
How effective is the morning-after pill?
An over-the-counter FDA-approved pill, like Julie, is 89% effective when taken within within 72 hours (or 3 days) after unprotected sex and even more effective when taken within 24 hours. The golden rule is the sooner you take it, the better it will work.
If you just had sex and you’re not sure whether you were completely protected, we recommend taking the morning-after pill as soon as possible. Remember, you can easily find Julie at your local pharmacy or Walmart.
One thing to note: Weight does impact the effectiveness of the morning-after pill. If your BMI is over 25, levonorgestrel may not be the best option for you. Research, unfortunately, doesn’t know why. But you still have options. Ella® is another type of emergency contraception pill that works for women up to 195 lbs. Like Julie, it’s a one-time pill, but it does require a prescription. The copper IUD is the most effective form of emergency contraceptive and is not affected by weight at all, but it does need to be inserted by a healthcare professional up to 5 days after having unprotected sex.
When to use the morning-after pill aka Julie
As women, life happens and sex happens, and there are plenty of reasons why you might find yourself needing to take the morning-after pill. And none of them should ever make you feel shame. Whether a condom broke, or you forgot to take your birth control pills for a few days, Julie is here to help. Keep this checklist on hand to help you figure out whether taking the morning-after pill is the right decision for you.
Use the morning-after pill if:
- You didn’t use birth control.
- You missed 2-3 active birth control pills in a row.
- You and your partner only used the pull out method
- You had unprotected sex.
- The condom broke or came off.
The morning-after pill is not the abortion pill
The morning-after pill—like Julie and Plan B— is very different from the abortion pill. The morning-after pill prevents pregnancy from starting by stopping the egg from being released, potentially halting fertilization, and preventing implantation. Plus, it’s FDA-approved and legal in all 50 states.
On the other hand, the abortion pill ends an existing pregnancy, which is something that the morning-after pill cannot do. If you’re already pregnant, the morning-after pill and the medicine within it, levonorgestrel, cannot end the pregnancy or impact it in any way. Remember, emergency contraception is a backup form of birth control and should not be used as regular birth control. It is not an abortion pill and cannot end a pregnancy that has already started.
The morning-after pill will not affect your fertility
The morning-after pill, aka Julie, only stops ovulation short-term. When you take it after unprotected sex, it reduces your chance of getting pregnant now. When you start a new cycle next month, you’ll go through a brand new ovulation phase, which is a new opportunity to get pregnant. So if you’re planning on having babies in the future—rest assured your chances of getting pregnant won’t be affected by Julie.
Is the morning-after pill like Julie safe?
Yes! The morning-after pill aka levonorgestrel is safe and effective when taken as directed. Millions of women have used these pills to prevent pregnancy for decades. Julie does not affect your fertility, but there are a few different side effects that are common, like changes in your period, nausea, lower stomach pain, fatigue, headaches, dizziness, and breast tenderness (David Turok, MD (2022). Emergency contraception. In UpToDate.).Plus, they’ve been tested and approved by the FDA, and are legal and available in all 50 states. While the morning-after pill is safe, it’s important to remember that it does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases. You’d have to use proper STD and HIV protection—like a condom—when having sex.
FAQ
Where can I buy the morning-after pill?
- You can buy Julie, Plan B, and other popular morning-after pill options as soon as you need it at Walmart, online, through a delivery service, or at your local pharmacy. And no, you don’t need an ID, prescription, or credit card to purchase it.
Who can use the morning-after pill?
- Anyone with female reproductive organs who has had unprotected sex. Unprotected sex can happen for many reasons like the condom broke, your partner didn’t pull out, you forgot to take the pill, or the thought of birth control just didn’t occur. If you find yourself in that situation, use Julie, or any morning-after pill, as a backup.
What are the side effects of Julie (the morning-after pill)?
As with any medication, there are some common side effects to keep in mind. None of these are long-term and should resolve themselves on their own. Reported side effects of the morning-after pill include:
- Changes in your period- heavier or lighter, early or late
- Nausea
- Lower abdominal cramps
- Tiredness
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Breast tenderness
- Bleeding between periods
Are there any interactions with this medication?
If you’re taking certain medications, they could interact with levonorgestrel—aka Julie and Plan B—which can make the pill less effective. So it’s always a good idea to check your medicine cabinet and talk to your doctor or pharmacist first. Known medications that can interact and reduce the effectiveness of Julie are:
- Efavirenz (HIV medication)
- Rifampin (tuberculosis treatment)
- Griseofulvin
- St. John’s Wart
- Certain anti-seizure meds (epilepsy)
How long after sex can I take the morning-after pill?
- The sooner, the better! Pills with levonorgestrel–like Plan B and Julie—are most effective within 72 hours (3 days) of unprotected sex.
Does the morning-after pill disrupt my cycle? Or cause my period to be late?
- It depends. Everyone’s body is different. Your period could come earlier or later. If it’s been three weeks since you’ve taken the morning-after pill and you still have no period—take a pregnancy test.
- Not pregnant? Then your cycle might just be a little out of sync; it should return to normal the following month.
Can I use the morning-after pill as regular birth control?
- No, Julie is not intended to act as your go-to birth control method. Standard birth control options like the birth control pill, the shot, implant, ring, and IUDs are better at protecting you in the long-term and are less expensive.
I’m not sure if I had unprotected sex. Should I take the morning-after pill?
- Peace of mind is everything. If you think you might’ve had unprotected sex or if your birth control might’ve failed, be kind to yourself and take Julie. You can easily find it and other emergency contraceptive options at Walmart, online, or at your local pharmacy.
When used as directed, Julie is safe and effective. Common side effects may include changes in your period, nausea, lower stomach pain, tiredness, headache, dizziness and breast tenderness. Julie will not protect you from HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any medication.
Emergency contraceptives like Julie work when you take them after sex. That’s because emergency contraception prevents pregnancy by delaying when you ovulate. By taking emergency contraception before sex, you may not be delaying ovulation long enough.
No. Julie is not what is commonly called “the abortion pill” or “medication abortion”. The active ingredient in the abortion pill is mifepristone. Pregnancy needs a hormone called progesterone to grow normally. Mifepristone blocks your body’s own progesterone, stopping the pregnancy from growing. Julie does not and will not impact an existing pregnancy, and works by delaying ovulation before there is a pregnancy.
The FDA recently made an update in December 2022 to remove any language suggesting that Julie may prevent implantation of a fertilized egg. We are currently working on removing this outdated disclaimer but you may still see it present on some of our packaging in the meantime. Please disregard these statements because they are out of date. Julie will not impact an existing pregnancy.
Julie is an emergency contraception you can take after:
- You didn’t use any form of birth control or had unprotected sex
- There was an issue with your regular birth control method (eg, the condom broke or slipped)
- You missed a dose (or more) of your regular birth control pill
Taking Julie will not impact your ability to get pregnant.
After taking Julie you can continue on with your regular birth control method if you have one (for example, continue taking birth control pills).
You will know Julie has been effective when you get your next period, which should come at the expected time, or within a week of the expected time. If your period is delayed beyond 1 week, it is possible you may be pregnant. You should get a pregnancy test and follow up with your healthcare professional.
Julie is a backup or emergency method and should not be used as a regular birth control method. Consult with your doctor about a birth control method that makes sense for you.
Please know that taking a dose of Julie will only protect you from one instance of unprotected sex, it will not prevent pregnancy from unprotected sex over the coming days or weeks. If you have unprotected sex in the future and want to prevent pregnancy, be sure to take a new dose of Julie and talk to your doctor about the best birth control options for you.
Your menstrual bleeding patterns may change temporarily after using levonorgestrel. If you find that your period is more than a week late, take a pregnancy test to confirm whether the contraceptive has worked.
Julie can be used by all women, regardless of weight but women with BMIs above 29.9 have a pregnancy risk of 5.8% - meaning that out of every 100 women who take Julie, 6 may become pregnant. We advise that you speak with your doctor for further information on how this may affect you personally.
Take Julie tablets orally (swallow it). It is preferable to take it with water, and you can take it with or without food. Do not insert Julie vaginally.
Julie is not an abortion pill and will not harm an existing pregnancy nor will it be effective if a woman is already pregnant.
Julie is a progestin‑only emergency contraception product that helps prevent pregnancy before it starts when taken within 72 hours after unprotected sex.
Julie is a backup method of preventing pregnancy and should not be used as regular birth control. Use as directed.
Julie is effective up to 72 hours (3 days) after unprotected sex. The sooner it’s taken after unprotected sex, the better it works.
Julie can significantly decrease your chances of getting pregnant. When used as directed, about 7 out of every 8 women who could have gotten pregnant will not become pregnant after taking Julie. The most important factor affecting how well Julie works is how quickly it is taken. When taken as directed within 72 hours after unprotected sex or birth control failure, Julie can significantly decrease the chance that a woman will get pregnant. In fact, the earlier Julie is taken after unprotected intercourse, the better it works.
Emergency contraception is not 100% effective, which is why it is critical that women have a regular birth control method. If you have any further questions, we encourage you to talk to your healthcare provider.
Since emergency contraception can affect the length of your menstrual cycle, your period might come about a week later or earlier than usual after taking Julie. If your period is more than one week late, consider the possibility of pregnancy.
No. No one needs a prescription to purchase Julie or EC. However, some insurances require a prescription for reimbursement. Some pharmacies and places where EC is sold may tell you that you need a prescription. You do not.
You do not need to see a doctor before or after taking Julie. You do not need a prescription from a doctor. We do encourage you to speak to a doctor you feel comfortable with about sex, reproductive health, and contraception.
No. We know this is a common misconception so let’s break it down. Using Julie (no matter how many times you take it) does not affect your fertility — and it will not prevent you from becoming pregnant in the future. You should feel free to use Julie whenever you think it’s necessary. Julie (and all EC) is not recommended as an ongoing form of birth control because it’s not as effective at preventing pregnancy as birth control methods like the IUD, patch, pill, ring, or shot. Also, frequent use of EC may cause periods to become irregular and unpredictable. That’s it!
Yes. You are not alone. Often times, people who buy EC are feeling stressed out, concerned, embarrassed, confused or ashamed. The important thing to remember is that you are not alone, you have nothing to be ashamed about, and the Julie community is here to support you. By taking Julie after unprotected sex, you are taking control of your future and taking a safe, effective, approved method of preventing pregnancy.
