What Is the Morning After Pill? Uses, Dosage, and What You Need to Know in 2026

The morning after pill is a form of emergency contraception—a medication you take after unprotected sex to reduce the chance of pregnancy. It is not the same as an abortion pill, and it will not end an existing pregnancy. Here is everything you need to know about it in 2026.

What Is the Morning After Pill?

The morning after pill is a type of emergency contraception—a pill you take after unprotected sex or contraceptive failure to prevent pregnancy. Despite its name, you do not have to wait until the morning after sex to take it; you should take it as soon as possible.

There are two main types of morning after pills used in the United States in 2026:

• Levonorgestrel (Plan B One-Step, My Way, Take Action, and others): A progestin-only pill available over the counter to anyone of any age, no prescription or ID needed. Contains 1.5 mg levonorgestrel in a single tablet. Take within 72 hours of unprotected sex.
• Ulipristal acetate (ella): A selective progesterone receptor modulator available by prescription only. Contains 30 mg ulipristal acetate. Take within 120 hours (5 days) of unprotected sex. More effective than levonorgestrel at all time points.

What Is the Morning After Pill Used For?

Emergency contraceptive pills are used to prevent pregnancy after:

• Unprotected sex (no contraception was used)
• Contraceptive failure (broken condom, missed birth control pills, dislodged diaphragm)
• Sexual assault (nonconsensual intercourse)

Emergency contraception is NOT intended as a regular, ongoing method of birth control. It is less effective than routine contraception (the pill, IUD, implant, patch, ring, etc.) and should be used only as a backup.

How Effective Is the Morning After Pill?

Effectiveness depends on which type you take and how quickly you take it:

• Plan B taken within 24 hours: ~94% effective
• Plan B taken within 72 hours: ~75–89% effective overall
• Ella taken within 24 hours: ~98% effective
• Ella taken within 120 hours: ~85% effective
• Copper IUD within 5 days: >99% effective (not a pill, but the most effective EC method)

Morning After Pill Dosage

Both pills are single-dose medications—you take one tablet, one time:

• Plan B One-Step (and generics): 1.5 mg levonorgestrel, one tablet by mouth. Can be taken with or without food.
• Ella: 30 mg ulipristal acetate, one tablet by mouth. Can be taken with or without food. Avoid grapefruit juice while taking ella.

Do not take a double dose—studies show taking two tablets does not improve effectiveness and increases the risk of side effects. If you vomit within 2 hours (Plan B) or 3 hours (ella), contact a healthcare provider to discuss repeating the dose.

Who Can Use the Morning After Pill?

Plan B and generic levonorgestrel are safe for most people who can become pregnant. There are no age restrictions for purchasing Plan B OTC in the United States. Do NOT take emergency contraception if:

• You are already pregnant (it will not work and is not indicated)
• You are allergic to levonorgestrel or ulipristal acetate

Plan B may be less effective if you weigh more than 165 pounds. In that case, ella or the copper IUD are better options.

Is the Morning After Pill the Same as the Abortion Pill?

No. The morning after pill prevents pregnancy by delaying or blocking ovulation. It works before fertilization and does not terminate an established pregnancy. The abortion pill (mifepristone + misoprostol) ends a pregnancy that has already been established. These are completely different medications with different mechanisms, uses, and legal statuses.

Want to understand exactly how the morning after pill works biologically? Read how the morning after pill works. Need to find it near you? medfinder calls pharmacies to check stock on your behalf.