About Last Night

There's only one thing I like more than contraception — free contraception.

This Wednesday, December 6, Planned Parenthood will be doling out free emergency contraception (EC) in an effort to educate the public about "the morning after pill."

In August, the FDA approved over-the-counter access to EC for women 18 and older (younger women can get EC through Planned Parenthood). According to Planned Parenthood, EC lowers the risk of pregnancy when started within 5 days of unprotected intercourse. Planned Parenthood recommends women and couples keep EC on hand as a backup birth control method in case the condom breaks or if two or more birth control pills are missed in a cycle. REMEMBER: EC does not prevent HIV or other STDs.

You can get your free EC at any participating Planned Parenthood office across the country on Wednesday, including locations at 23 Mansfield Avenue in Burlington and 183 Talcott Road in Williston. For more information, visit Planned Parenthood of Northern New England.

If you like to be more proactive in your approach to birth control and safer sex, you can always get free condoms, lube, dental dams, etc at Vermont CARES and the RU12 Community Center.