The morning-after pill, AKA Emergency Contraception, is one of the greatest medical innovations of the modern era. Designed to prevent conception when other birth control methods have failed — or been forgotten — it can also reduce the anxiety that often accompanies unprotected sex. Here’s everything you need to know…
What is the morning after pill?
So there’s a very good chance that while you’ve heard of the morning-after pill, you’re not that familiar with what it is and how it works.
As its name suggests, the morning-after pill is a pill that can be taken after unprotected sex, meaning sex without contraception or birth control, to prevent pregnancy from occurring. It doesn’t replace regular contraception, so you can’t take it all the time, but it can be used for those times when things haven’t gone well.
They have slightly different names worldwide including Plan B, Ella and My Way. And while they do the same job, they don’t all work the same way. This means that deciding which one is right for you may depend on how long ago you had sex and your medical history, as well as any other contraception or medication you may be using.
Some morning-after pills are available without a prescription from a pharmacy, while others are only available with a prescription.
Why would I need the morning after pill?
You may need the morning-after pill if you have had sex without using contraception or if you think your usual method of contraception has failed. This can include situations such as forgetting to take your pill, having sex without a condom when you are not using other contraception, the condom breaking, or any other reason why you are worried that you might get pregnant.
If you normally use another form of contraception but are concerned that you may need the morning-after pill for any reason, then talk to a pharmacist or doctor as soon as possible.
How does the morning after pill work?
Morning after pills work by delaying ovulation until the sperm’s life expectancy has passed. Regardless of the brand, they generally work in one of two ways. But both delay the release of an egg from your ovaries until there is no sperm left to fertilize it, meaning they have died waiting. Here are the two different active ingredients that make the pills so effective:
Levonorgestrel
Levonorgestrel, found in Plan B, is a form of progesterone. This prevents you from ovulating on time by preventing your luteinizing hormone from triggering ovulation.
Morning after pills containing Levonorgestrel can be used up to 72 hours or 3 days after unprotected intercourse. But the sooner you get it, the more likely it will work. And it works best if used within 12 hours of unprotected sex. If, however, your BMI is greater than 26 or you weigh more than 70 kg, the dose should be doubled.
You can start or continue other hormonal contraception immediately after taking pills containing levonorgestrel. It is also safe to use during breastfeeding.
Ulipristal acetate
This is the second type of morning-after pill that includes ellaOne, and you’ll generally need a prescription to take it. Ulipristal acetate, a progesterone receptor modulatoracts to delay ovulation. But it will also thin the lining of your uterus, which is why it’s a first-line treatment for endometriosis. They can be taken up to 120 hours or 5 days after unprotected sex, but it also works better the sooner you take it.
It is important to note that ellaOne it can affect other hormonal contraception and hormonal contraception can also affect how well it works. You should wait 5 days and use condoms or avoid sex before starting another form of hormonal contraception after taking ellaOne. You should also avoid breastfeeding for a week after taking it.
Is there any reason I shouldn’t use the morning-after pill?
If you have severe asthma, Ulipristal acetate may not be suitable for you. Talk to a healthcare professional for advice on this. In addition, as breastfeeding should be avoided for a week after taking ellaOne, this may not be suitable for you.
Does taking the morning after pill guarantee I won’t get pregnant?
In a word, no. The morning after pill works by delaying ovulation. This means if you are already ovulating it won’t work.
And even if you’re not ovulating yet, there’s still a small chance you could get pregnant. The sooner you take the pill after unprotected sex, the more likely it is to work.
Now, here’s the really important part: Until 2% of women who take the morning-after pill correctly will get pregnant. However, the likelihood of this depends on several factors, and this percentage is just an average estimate. It is important to take a pregnancy test 3 weeks after taking the pill to make sure. Also, if you vomit within 3 hours of taking the morning after pill, then you will need to take it again.
Important note: Morning after pills do not continue to protect you from pregnancy. If you have unprotected sex again after taking it, then you will be at risk of pregnancy again. You can take them more than once in a cycle if needed, but it’s important to talk to a healthcare professional about long-term contraception.
What side effects does it cause?
Because morning-after pills delay ovulation, they can also disrupt your menstrual cycle. She may have her next period earlier or later than usual. And it could also make it more painful than usual.
Pills make you feel nausea or give you a headache or abdominal pain. Aside from the general bleurgh, there are no serious side effects associated with using the morning after pill.
Where can I get the morning after pill?
There are many places where you can get a morning after pill. You can get it for free from some places, other places you have to buy it.
For example, if you are in the UK, levonorgestrel is available both from the pharmacy and free on the NHS, while Ulipristal acetate requires a prescription. In the EU and America, you can get levonorgestrel without a prescription, while Ulipristal acetate also requires a prescription.
Is the morning after pill the same as the abortion pill?
No. Morning after pills work prevent pregnancy. While abortion pills work terminate a pregnancy which has already happened.
Are there other options for emergency contraception?
Yes. THE copper spiral it can also be used as emergency contraception. It can be inserted up to 5 days after unprotected sex or the first time you may have ovulated. And it works to prevent the egg from fertilizing or implanting in your uterus.
A copper IUD must be fitted by a trained doctor or nurse but, depending on which one you have, it can be left in place for 5-10 years as long-term contraception. Furthermore, it is generally a most effective form of emergency contraception despite morning after pills.
The morning-after pill: TLDR
As a form of emergency contraception, the morning-after pill comes in two forms. The first levonorgestrel, or Plan B, is available without a prescription, while Ulipristal acetate, also known as ellaOne, requires a prescription. Both, however, work to stop ovulation, which, in turn, can prevent conception.
In both cases, the sooner you take them after unprotected sex, the more effective they are. But they can still work up to 3-5 days after, depending on which one you take. And they are quite effective – 98% of users will not get pregnant after using it. But some will. For example, if you vomit after taking it or if you are already ovulating, then chances are it won’t help.
Fair warning, gang, if you have unprotected sex again after taking the morning after pill, you’ll need another dose. It’s a one-time deal. There are, however, long-term ways to prevent pregnancy, even in an emergency.
A copper IUD, or IUD, can prevent conception if implanted within 5 days of unprotected sex and will continue to prevent conception for 5-10 years. So it’s worth thinking about.
