Emergency contraception is a form of birth control that is meant to be used if your primary method failed (like a condom broke or you missed birth control pills) or you forgot to use your primary birth control. It is used to help prevent pregnancy after sex and must be taken within 72 hours after unprotected sex or if your primary birth control method failed. The sooner you take it, the better it will work. It is not meant to be used as a regular form of birth control. Please call our clinic at (859) 623-7312 if you have questions about ECPs or birth control and a nurse will be available to answer your questions or schedule an appointment for ECP.