Emergency Contraception

Plan B = One Step

• Plan B One Step is one hormonal pill
• Must be taken within 72 hours of the unprotected sex
• It is up to 84% effective if taken promptly
• You will still need another method of birth control

The first dose of Plan B must be taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex so it is important to call us right away.

How to get Plan B emergency contraception on the weekend and after clinic hours:

If you are 17 or younger call Greene County Family Planning at 518-719-3580 and listen to the message on the machine. Call the number that is mentioned in the message. You will be calling an answering service so be prepared to give your name and a phone number so that a practitioner can call you back. Say that you are a Greene County Family Planning patient and that you need emergency contraception. The practitioner who calls you back will call in a prescription for you to any pharmacy you would like them to call. If you have them call Price Chopper in Catskill you will be able to get Plan B One-Step for a $5.00 dispensing fee. At any other pharmacy you will have to pay whatever that pharmacy charges, usually around $50. NOTE: Several area pharmacies do not stock or will not stock Plan B; call first!

If you are 18 or older you do not need a prescription. You may go to any pharmacy and pay what ever that pharmacy charges. If you go to Price Chopper and say that you are a Greene County Family Planning patient and show photo ID that you are 18 or older you can get it for a $5.00 dispensing fee.

More Information

Plan C = Copper IUD

Plan C is the Paragard Copper IUD copper IUD, it is 99% effective in preventing a pregnancy when inserted for emergency contraception.

• It is 99% effective in preventing a pregnancy for 10 years!
• It contains no hormones
• It is 99% effective as a long acting reversible contraceptive method (LARC) and can be used up to 10 years
• It is inserted at our office in a 15 minute visit
• It can be removed at any time

Common side effects include increased bleeding during the time of your period for the first 3-6 months until your body gets used to it, and possible cramping.

Your insurance will likely cover it in full with no co-pays. If you have no insurance, and you are income qualified,  you can apply for the Family Planning Benefit and have it covered that day. If you make too much, you will be put on a sliding fee scale.

A Copper IUD does not protect you against STDs, and if you are having it inserted for emergency contraception you will be tested for STDs at the time of the insertion.