Emergency contraception (EC), also known as “the morning after pill,” is now readily available on campus through Winton Health Services.

EC can prevent pregnancy if taken within 72 hours after unprotected sex. Students can obtain it by going to Winton during clinic hours and speaking to Associate Director of Health Services Kathy McNaul.

Before the patient can get the pill, she must meet with McNaul to answer questions about when the intercourse happened and if she wants to be pregnant, as well as receiving instructions about how to use the drug. Patients can also get a kit in advance at their annual gynecological exam.

The cost for the pill and visit is $28. In comparison, first visit to Family Tree costs at least $36 to get EC.

The brand of EC Winton provides is Plan B. Plan B is a progestin-only contraceptive (as opposed to a combination of progestin and estrogen) that is 95 percent effective at reducing a woman’s chance of getting pregnant if used within 24 hours after unprotected sex, 89 percent effective within 72 hours and 50 percent effective within 120 hours.

However, effectiveness decreases with repeated use. There are no serious complications with the drug, and common side effects include nausea, abdominal pain, fatigue, headache and menstrual changes.

McNaul said she that she has been providing EC to students for the past few years as a nurse practitioner, as well as discussing it with students at their annual exam.

“It’s different [now] in that it’s more well-known,” she said. “Now we’ll have it here just like other antibiotics without having to send someone with a prescription to a pharmacy.”

Rachel Fletcher ’06 organized the effort to have EC on campus through her off-campus employment and Program Coordinator positions at Family Tree.

“I knew it was important, but I wasn’t impacted about just how important it was until I read articles that said that most people using EC are people using [birth control] already,” she said. “It represents a huge potential for EC if it can prevent pregnancy for those who are already being careful. Everyone needs to know about it.”

Fletcher said that she is hoping to conduct information sessions about EC with Resident Advisors and Hall Directors so that they pass this information on to their residents.

Many students are pleased with the new availability of EC on campus.

“It’s great,” Aditi Naik ’07 said. “It’s good that [Macalester] is offering safer options for students.”

“I think it’s a good idea, as long as Winton distributes it responsibly,” Lauren Sperry ’04 said, citing possible reactions with other drugs and side effects as a concern.