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Can teens get emergency contraception without parental permission?

Yes. While Texas requires that teens under 18 get parental permission to access prescription birth control (daily birth control pills and long-acting reversible contraceptives like IUDs or the implant), anyone can get emergency contraception (also known as Plan B or the Morning-After pill), no matter how old you are. Plan B is available over-the-counter at most drugstores. Even your partner or a friend can buy emergency contraceptive pills for you. It can cost anywhere from $25-$50. For lower-cost emergency contraception, you can visit a Planned Parenthood or Title X clinic. If you’re a teen in Texas, find out how to get free emergency contraception from various organizations (including Jane’s Due Process) here.

If you have unprotected sex, taking emergency contraception within 120 hours (5 days) makes it MUCH less likely that you will get pregnant. The sooner you take the pill, the more effective it will be (it is significantly more effective in the first 72 hours (3 days). Depending on the type you choose to take, you will either take a single pill or two pills 12 hours apart.

If you are over 165 pounds, emergency contraception may be less reliable for you. You can take a double dose of Plan B to improve effectiveness if you are over 165 pounds.

You can also order emergency contraception online from certain approved retailers – but they don’t offer expedited shipping, so that’s just for stocking up ahead of time!

The morning-after pill is NOT the same as the abortion pill, which must be purchased and taken at a licensed abortion facility in a state where abortion is legal, and is effective until 10 weeks of pregnancy.

Still have questions? Call or text us: 1-866-999-5263.