Frequently asked questions

Julie is a progestin‑only emergency contraception product that helps prevent pregnancy before it starts when taken within 72 hours after unprotected sex.

Julie is a backup method of preventing pregnancy and should not be used as regular birth control. Use as directed.

Julie helps prevent pregnancy by temporarily delaying ovulation. It works by delaying the release of an egg from the ovary, so there’s no egg to meet the sperm. If there’s no egg, there’s no fertilization and no pregnancy.

Julie can significantly decrease your chances of getting pregnant. When used as directed, about 7 out of every 8 women who could have gotten pregnant will not become pregnant after taking Julie. The most important factor affecting how well Julie works is how quickly it is taken. When taken as directed within 72 hours after unprotected sex or birth control failure, Julie can significantly decrease the chance that a woman will get pregnant. In fact, the earlier Julie is taken after unprotected intercourse, the better it works.

Emergency contraception is not 100% effective, which is why it is critical that women have a regular birth control method. If you have any further questions, we encourage you to talk to your healthcare provider.

Julie is an emergency contraception you can take after:

• You didn’t use any form of birth control or had unprotected sex
• There was an issue with your regular birth control method (eg, the condom broke or slipped)
• You missed a dose (or more) of your regular birth control pill

Take Julie tablets orally (swallow it). It is preferable to take it with water, and you can take it with or without food. Do not insert Julie vaginally.

Julie is effective up to 72 hours (3 days) after unprotected sex. The sooner it’s taken after unprotected sex, the better it works.

Julie can be used by all women, regardless of weight but women with BMIs above 29.9 have a pregnancy risk of 5.8% - meaning that out of every 100 women who take Julie, 6 may become pregnant. We advise that you speak with your doctor for further information on how this may affect you personally.

When used as directed, Julie is safe and effective. Some normal side effects you may experience include:

• Changes in your period
• Some women may have changes in their period, such as a period that is heavier (or lighter) and/or a period that is early or late. If your period is more than a week late, you may be pregnant.
• Nausea
• Lower stomach (abdominal) pain
• Tiredness
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Breast tenderness

Bear in mind:

• If you have severe abdominal pain, you may have an ectopic pregnancy, and you should get immediate medical attention.
• If you vomit within 2 hours of taking the medication, call a healthcare professional to find out if you should repeat the dose.
• It’s important to note that using Julie doesn’t impact an existing pregnancy nor does it negatively affect your ability to get pregnant in the future. Julie is a safe and easy way to prevent pregnancy without needing a prescription or having to go to the pharmacy.

Additionally, Julie is a backup or emergency method and should not be used as a regular birth control method. Consult your doctor about a birth control method that makes sense for you.

Taking Julie will not impact your ability to get pregnant.

Julie is not an abortion pill and will not harm an existing pregnancy nor will it be effective if a woman is already pregnant.

After taking Julie you can continue on with your regular birth control method if you have one (for example, continue taking birth control pills).

You will know Julie has been effective when you get your next period, which should come at the expected time, or within a week of the expected time.  If your period is delayed beyond 1 week, it is possible you may be pregnant. You should get a pregnancy test and follow up with your healthcare professional.

Julie is a backup or emergency method and should not be used as a regular birth control method. Consult with your doctor about a birth control method that makes sense for you.

Please know that taking a dose of Julie will only protect you from one instance of unprotected sex, it will not prevent pregnancy from unprotected sex over the coming days or weeks. If you have unprotected sex in the future and want to prevent pregnancy, be sure to take a new dose of Julie and talk to your doctor about the best birth control options for you.

Your menstrual bleeding patterns may change temporarily after using levonorgestrel. If you find that your period is more than a week late, take a pregnancy test to confirm whether the contraceptive has worked.

Julie has a 2 to 3 year shelf life depending on when it was produced. For the exact month and year that your Julie is set to expire, please refer to the information printed on the side of the box.

Julie is currently available in-store at CVS, Walmart, and Target and online at our website.

Emergency contraceptives like Julie work when you take them after sex. That’s because emergency contraception prevents pregnancy by delaying when you ovulate. By taking emergency contraception before sex, you may not be delaying ovulation long enough.

Taking additional doses of Julie or other emergency contraception won’t make it more effective. If you’ve already taken the recommended one tablet dose, you don’t need to take an additional dose on the same day or the day after. However, if you have sex without a condom or other barrier method 2 days in a row, you should take Julie both times to reduce your risk for pregnancy for each case. The only reason you should take more than 1 emergency contraceptive pill is if you vomit within 2 hours of taking Julie.

No. We know this is a common misconception so let’s break it down. Using Julie (no matter how many times you take it) does not affect your fertility — and it will not prevent you from becoming pregnant in the future. You should feel free to use Julie whenever you think it’s necessary. Julie (and all EC) is not recommended as an ongoing form of birth control because it’s not as effective at preventing pregnancy as birth control methods like the IUD, patch, pill, ring, or shot. Also, frequent use of EC may cause periods to become irregular and unpredictable. That’s it!

Julie does not protect against STI’s (sexually transmitted infections). For STI concerns, please see a healthcare provider who can talk to you about effective methods of routine birth control that help protect against STI’s and answer any questions you may have.

No. Anyone, no matter how old you are and what state you live in, can purchase Julie. You do not need a prescription and you do not need to  be a certain age.

No. No one needs a prescription to purchase Julie or EC. However, some insurances require a prescription for reimbursement. Some pharmacies and places where EC is sold may tell you that you need a prescription. You do not.

Since emergency contraception can affect the length of your menstrual cycle, your period might come about a week later or earlier than usual after taking Julie. ​​If your period is more than one week late, consider the possibility of pregnancy.

Yes, you can take Julie multiple times during one cycle. Typically, it is only necessary to take one dose of Julie each time a person has sex without contraception. Also, we want to point out that Julie is not as effective as using other forms of birth control regularly. If you find yourself taking it several times during one cycle, you may want to speak to your doctor or healthcare provider about other forms of birth control.

First, let us be very clear that Julie does not end and will not end a pregnancy — it can reduce the risk of pregnancy if started within 72 hours (3 days) of unprotected intercourse. Taking Julie will not harm an existing fetus. However, if you know you are already pregnant, you should not and do not need to take Julie.

No. Julie is not what is commonly called “the abortion pill” or “medication abortion”. ​​The active ingredient in the abortion pill is mifepristone. Pregnancy needs a hormone called progesterone to grow normally. Mifepristone blocks your body’s own progesterone, stopping the pregnancy from growing. Julie does not and will not impact an existing pregnancy, and works by delaying ovulation before there is a pregnancy.The FDA  recently made an update in December 2022 to remove any language suggesting that Julie may prevent implantation of a fertilized egg. We are currently working on removing this outdated disclaimer but you may still see it present on some of our packaging in the meantime.  Please disregard these statements because they are out of date. Julie will not impact an existing pregnancy.

Here are the facts - Julie, Plan B, Take Action, and all of the other FDA approved emergency contraceptive pills on the market all have the same active ingredient - levonorgestrel at a dose of 1.5mg. Through creating Julie, we aim to change the conversation around EC, and provide education and empathy rather than shame and stigma. We are also on a mission to make EC accessible, and are donating a Julie tablet for every tablet sold.

You do not need to see a doctor before or after taking Julie. You do not need a prescription from a doctor. We do encourage you to speak to a doctor you feel comfortable with about sex, reproductive health, and contraception.

Yes. You are not alone. Often times, people who buy EC are feeling stressed out, concerned, embarrassed, confused or ashamed. The important thing to remember is that you are not alone, you have nothing to be ashamed about, and the Julie community is here to support you. By taking Julie after unprotected sex, you are taking control of your future and taking a safe, effective, approved method of preventing pregnancy.

Julie and all EC is legal in all 50 states. We will update you if anything changes.

Yes.

There are no known long term risks to taking Julie. Common short-term side effects include heavier menstrual bleeding, nausea, headaches, and fatigue.

We do not ship internationally at this time. If you would like to see Julie in your country, please email us at support@juliecare.co

Yes!