CENTER FOR STUDENT ADVOCACY AND WELLNESS

If you get pregnant, you may be unsure about how to move forward, or you may be facing external pressure to make a certain decision. But it is your body and the decision on how to move forward with the pregnancy should be entirely yours. CSAW is here to support you through whatever decision you make regarding your pregnancy.  

Here are some on how to proceed with an unplanned pregnancy:  

• : giving birth and placing your child with another person or family permanently 
• Abortion: taking medication or having a medical procedure that ends the pregnancy 
• : giving birth and raising the child 

Discussing an unintended pregnancy with a sexual or romantic partner, or with a parent or loved one, can be scary and difficult. You may be unsure how to tell them or nervous about how they will respond. Here are some tips on having that conversation:  

• If you feel worried about how the person you’re telling will respond, choose a public location in daylight where you are safe and someone can help you if needed. Consider bringing a friend with you for extra support or safety. If you feel unsafe talking to a partner, talk with a CSAW staff member for extra support and help safety planning the conversation.  
• Remember that you haven’t done anything wrong. The person you’re talking to should not make you feel bad or guilty for getting pregnant. They should support you in whatever you need and however you decide to proceed with the pregnancy.  

If you choose to continue with your pregnancy, you might consider taking time off from school either during or after pregnancy. See more on . 

Something to be aware of when seeking abortion care is the prevalence of fake abortion clinics, sometimes called Crisis Pregnancy Centers or pregnancy resource centers. These centers advertise themselves as offering things like free ultrasounds or support discussing pregnancy options. However, these centers often do not provide regulated medical care. They seek to trick and discourage people seeking abortions by spreading harmful misinformation, and many try to coerce people into continuing a pregnancy despite their desire for abortion care.  

Abortion is legal and protected in the state of Illinois. However, access to abortion providers outside of the Chicagoland area can be challenging. Crisis pregnancy centers are far more common.  
For more information, please . 

CSAW provides free sexual health supplies for ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ students including latex and non-latex external condoms in a variety of sizes, internal condoms, flavored condoms, dental dams, finger cots, and both water based and silicone-based lubricants. We also offer free emergency contraception pills.  
If you need something but don’t see it, ask any folks in the reception area on the third floor of Searle Hall. 

• Sexual health supplies can be obtained in the following locations: 
• Center for Student Advocacy and Wellness (Reception area on the third floor of Searle Hall, 633 Emerson Street) 
• ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ Medicine Student Health Service Evanston (Past the check-in desks on the first floor of Searle Hall, 633 Emerson Street) 
• (House 5, Foster-Walker Complex, 1927 Orrington Avenue) 
• Multicultural Student Affairs (MCC, 1936 Sheridan Road) 
• Sexual Health and Assault Peer Educators (SHAPE) programs or events 

A clinician will ask you for a urine sample and will talk to you about why you think you might be pregnant. Be prepared to provide the dates of your last two menstrual periods. This is a good opportunity to discuss important issues related to pregnancy prevention, such as how well your current method of birth control is working for you or whether you have been forced to have sex against your will. NUHS clinicians can help you with these and other concerns. You will not be given a pelvic exam at this time. 

Most of the time, a urine test will accurately detect a pregnancy 2 to 3 days before a missed menstrual period. Most people will wait until a day or two after the time when they were supposed to get their period to come in for a test. Remember, many things, including stress, can disrupt the menstrual cycle and cause you to be late or even skip a period altogether. 

Over-the-counter home pregnancy tests can be purchased at most drugstores for around $8 – 15 (the cost at the NUHS pharmacy is $10). They are similar to the tests that are done by clinicians at NUHS. Two advantages to having a test done at NUHS are the test is covered by the NU Student Health Insurance plan -- if you have it -- and a clinician is more likely to perform the test accurately than you are at home. Some students will come to NUHS to confirm the result of a home pregnancy test. 

Emergency contraception pills (EC) are a medication that greatly reduces the chances of pregnancy when taken quickly and effectively. Preventing pregnancy might become a concern when contraception is not used or is used but fails (i.e., a condom slips off or breaks, you forget a dose of hormonal birth control). It may also become a concern following a sexual assault. 

EC does not cause an abortion, but instead prevents pregnancy from occurring in the first place by delaying or stopping ovulation. EC is ineffective if pregnancy has already occurred and cannot harm an already developing .

EC pills are a and effective medication for people of all ages. There are no medical conditions or medications which prevent their use. EC also does not cause any serious harmful long-term side effects. If side effects are experienced, they are generally mild and resolve on their own. 

Because of how they work, EC pills are time-sensitive and most effective within the first 24 hours of sexual contact without contraception. Though some kinds can be used up to 5 days or 120 hours after the incident of concern, they become dramatically less effective after 3 days or 72 hours. Therefore, it is recommended that you take EC as quickly as possible. 

There are multiple types of EC medication, many of which are available over-the-counter and without a prescription (i.e., Plan B One-Step, Julie, MyWay). Note that if you weigh over 165 pounds, these over-the-counter methods may be less effective, and you may want to check out other EC methods described in the section below. 

CSAW has a limited supply of over-the-counter emergency contraceptive pills available for free in our office on the 3rd Floor of Searle Hall. 

The Student Health Service Pharmacy provides EC pills without a prescription or appointment from 9AM-5PM, Monday-Friday and from 9-11:30 AM on Saturdays. The pharmacy is closed on University holidays and has alternative operating hours during school breaks. Visit ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ Medicine Student Health Service Location and Hours for details. 

One dose of EC pills at the Student Health Service costs $10, considerably less than at most other pharmacies. Students may want to consider buying these pills in advance to have on hand in emergency situations. 

EC can also be purchased off-campus at nearby pharmacies and retail locations in Evanston and Chicago or . With online shopping, it is important to be mindful of shipping timing so that the pill may be taken as soon as possible. Prices typically range from $15-50 per dose. If buying Plan B from a pharmacy, a limited-use $10 coupon download is available through . 

The Intrauterine Device or IUD. 

Copper IUDs (like Paragard) and hormonal IUDs (like Mirena and Liletta) are the most effective forms of emergency contraception. They work up to 5 days after unprotected sex, are as effective on day 1 as day 5, can last between 8 to 10 years, and their effectiveness is not impacted by body size. IUDs can be expensive, and it can be challenging to get an appointment within 5 days of an unprotected sexual experience. Some IUDs may have side effects, and inserting an IUD can be very painful if the clinician doesn’t use something to manage pain. 

Ulipristal Acetate pill (ella)

Emergency Contraception Pills containing Ulipristal Acetate (ella) are the most effect EC Pill option. They work up to 5 days after unprotected sex, are more effective than over the counter EC pill, and have been shown to be effective in people who weigh up to 195 pounds. However, these pills do require a prescription.  
Both these methods can be more effective for a longer period of time after the concerning incident than over-the-counter pills. They are also more inclusive of patients over 165 pounds. Further information about various types of EC is available through . 

Be aware that not all forms of emergency contraception described here are available through the Student Health Service, and you may have to go off-campus to find a provider, such as Planned Parenthood.