Your Simple Guide To Everything You Need To Know About The Morning After Pill
Accidents happen, and taking a morning after pill might be beneficial when this occurs in your life. The condom may have broken or fallen off, you may have forgotten to take your birth control pill, or you may have gotten carried away on a hot date that became hotter than either of you planned.
Taking the morning after pill can offer you an extra layer of security against pregnancy in some circumstances. But what exactly is the morning after pill, how does it work, when should you take it, and where can you obtain it? Read on to find out.
Your questions about the morning after pill or other emergency contraceptive techniques are likely to be many. So we’re here to answer the questions that come up the most often.
Contents
What is the Morning After Pill?
The emergency contraceptive pill, often known as the morning after pill, is a backup method of contraception available in pill form that helps to prevent an unforeseen or unwanted pregnancy from occurring.
When used as an emergency method, it can prevent pregnancy for up to 72 hours following unprotected sexual contact. Remember, a man does not need to cum to impregnate a woman and the pull-out method is also very risky.
It is effective, but if you decide to use it, it is critical that you consider a few important factors.
How Does The Emergency Pill Work?
In situations where a woman is at risk of pregnancy owing to the failure of barrier techniques such as condoms or pill breaks, the emergency contraceptive pill can assist in preventing pregnancy.
Please keep in mind that the sooner you begin taking it, the more effective it will become. When taken the morning after, the morning after pill acts by either inhibiting or delaying egg release from the ovary, or by delaying the start of ovulation.
Women who have already begun to conceive will not benefit from this approach, as it is neither abortive nor causes infertility.
How Long Can One Wait To Take It?
Although it is more effective the sooner it is taken – preferably within 24 hours after unprotected sexual intercourse, hence it is popularly known as “the day after” – its effect can be extended up to 5 days.
How Effective Is The Morning After Pill?
A study indicated that nearly one-in-eight women who used ulipristal acetate as emergency contraception after a sexual encounter without protection became pregnant.
Women who take levonorgestrel pills, on the other hand, are between 1.2 percent and 2.1 percent more likely to become pregnant.
It is true that the effectiveness of any emergency contraceptive pill declines the longer you wait to use it, and that this is true regardless of other considerations such as a higher body mass index (BMI).
Is The Morning After Pill Abortifacient?
Despite popular belief, the emergency pill is NOT an abortifacient. Alternatively, if the fertilized egg implants in the endometrium of the uterine wall, the contraceptive method is ineffective and will not harm or interrupt the pregnancy in any way.
If used in a controlled and responsible manner, the emergency pill or morning after pill can be a fantastic alternative to prescription medication.
This approach is not intended to be a replacement for other contraceptives such as condoms, diaphragms, and other devices.
No protection against sexually transmitted diseases is provided by this product (STDs). The best recommendation is to consult with your doctor in order to gain a better understanding of contraceptive methods and how to use them properly so that you can enjoy a full and safe sexual experience with your partner.
What If It Doesn’t Work?
The morning-after pill works by delaying ovulation; therefore, if you have already ovulated, you will not be prevented from becoming pregnant by taking the morning-after pill.
This substance will not harm a fertilized egg or prevent it from implanting. If you are expecting a child, there are a variety of alternatives to consider with your doctor.
Side Effects And Risks
Before taking it, you should be aware of a number of aspects about the morning after pill:
- It is advisable not to use it more than once in a cycle unless absolutely necessary.
- If you have a medical condition, it is best to contact your doctor before using this medication.
- Patients with severe liver failure or severe asthma should avoid taking this medication.
- Your period may be earlier or later a few days after taking it. If it is delayed for more than 10 days, a pregnancy test should be performed.
- It can increase testosterone and hcg level.
- If you are breastfeeding, it is recommended that you stop nursing on the breast for a week, but it is also recommended that you express milk to ensure that breastfeeding can continue during this period.
- It has been shown to reduce the effectiveness of hormonal contraceptives, thus it is recommended that women who are using this technique utilise another type of reinforcement until their period appears.
Conclusion
When pleasure and well-being work together, life is more enjoyable. Our goal is to create a space for discussion about the options you have for living your informed sexuality, about your right to conscious pleasure, and about the reproductive health and contraception options that are currently available to you.
You have the right to experiment, but you also have the responsibility to yourself and your body, which gives you the ability to enjoy life when you make the time to do so.
FAQs
Do I need a prescription for the morning after pill?
This pill, like any other contraceptive method, is accessible over-the-counter at pharmacies, which means that you don’t have to see a doctor in order to receive a prescription for this drug. It is available to buy it at a trustworthy pharmacy of your choosing.
When should the emergency pill be taken?
It should be taken as soon as possible; within the first to third day after sexual intercourse. The pill becomes less effective the longer it is left on the shelf.
How many times can the morning-after pill be taken?
The emergency pill comes in one or two doses, depending on the main component of the pill.
It should be noted that the intake has the ability to alter the menstrual cycle; as a result, it would not be advised to use it more than once in a 12-month period of the year.
If in any doubt, contact your doctor or sexual health service.
