This post is a guide to everything you should be aware of before considering emergency contraception and how it can affect you based on information by medical sources and pharmacist knowledge.
Emergency contraception better known as the morning-after pill is used to prevent a pregnancy. If you have missed your regular form of birth control, you think your birth control may have failed, or if you have had a “oops” moment and the thoughts of a crying baby are not what you had in mind in 9 months it can be an option.
Thank goodness for emergency contraception, because let’s face it, mistakes can happen.
They are known as emergency contraception because they are not used regularly to prevent pregnancy, like other forms of birth control such as a pill or the patch. Instead, they are taken as more of a one-off, to ensure pregnancy does not occur.
What Are The Available Options Of Emergency Contraception?
There are 2 types of emergency contraception:
- The emergency contraceptive pill(morning after pill) – Levonelle or ellaOne are the brand names
- The intrauterine device (IUD or coil)
Neither of these methods stop the transmission of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI’s).
How Does The Emergency Contraception Pill Work ?
Our bodies naturally produce a hormone called Progesterone. Progesterone is known as the “pregnancy hormone.” It helps the fertilized egg implant in the uterus to establish and maintain a healthy pregnancy.
Emergency hormonal contraception stops progesterone working normally therefore preventing a fertilised egg implanting in the uterus.
EllaOne has to be taken within 120 hours (5 days) of sex to prevent pregnancy.
Levonelle has to be taken within 72 hours (3 days) of sex to prevent pregnancy. It doesn’t interfere with your regular method of contraception.
How Does The Intrauterine Device Work?
The intrauterine device known as an IUD is a small, T-shaped device that’s put into your uterus, this has to be done by a doctor or nurse.
It works by releasing copper to stop the egg implanting in your womb or being fertilised.
The main benefit of having an IUD fitted is that it can be left in as an ongoing form of contraception for between five and seven years. An IUD can be inserted up to 5 days after unprotected sex, or up to 5 days after the earliest time you could have ovulated (released an egg), to prevent pregnancy.
Less than 1% of women who use the IUD get pregnant. This makes it the most effective form of contraception.
Does Emergency Contraception Have Side Effects?
Unlike regular hormonal contraception, the side effects of the morning after pill tend to only last a few days. Not everyone experiences the same effects but some common ones include:
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Breast tenderness
- Breast swelling
- Irregular or heavy bleeding
- Back Pain
- Lower abdominal pain or cramps
- Fatigue
- Nausea and Vomiting
*If you vomit within 2 hours of taking it, you may need a second dose in which case you will need to contact your doctor or pharmacist.
Is The Morning After Pill Safe?
While emergency contraception is regarded as safe, it is better to choose a regular method of birth control, and to use that routinely and diligently instead.
It should stop you from getting pregnant if taken as directed and in the right time frame. However, it should not affect you from getting pregnant in the future.
The side effects listed above vary between individuals and are usually short lived. If you feel unwell after taking the morning after pill it is best to contact your health care provider for further advice.
Taking emergency contraception does not prevent pregnancies for intercourse that has occured after taking the tablet.
What Counts As A Missed Pill?
For combined pills a missed pill is one that is 24 or more hours late. If you have missed one pill, you can take another one as soon as you remember and then carry on as normal, emergency contraception is not necessary.
Emergency contraception is recommended if 2 or more combined oral contraceptive tablets are missed from the first 7 tablets in a packet and unprotected intercourse has occurred since finishing the last packet.
For progesterone only or the “mini pill” emergency contraception is recommended if one or more tablets are missed or taken more than 12 hours late and unprotected intercourse has occurred before two further tablets have been correctly taken.
How To Carry On Taking The Pill After You Took Emergency Contraception
If you have taken Levonelle, you should take your next contraceptive pill, apply a new patch or insert a new ring within 12 hours of taking the emergency pill and continue taking your pill as usual.
You should use a second form of protection such as a condom for 7 days if you use the patch, ring, combined pill (except Qlaira), implant or injection ( this is increased to 9 days if you are taking the combined pill Qlaira) and 2 days for the progesterone only pill
If you have taken ellaOne, you should wait at least 5 days before taking your next contraceptive pill, applying a new patch or inserting a new ring. Use additional contraception, such as condoms, until you restart your contraception and for an additional seven days if you use the patch, ring, combined pill (except Qlaira), implant or injection, (nine days for the combined pill Qlaira)and two days if you use the mini pill (progesterone only)
Who Can Use The Morning After Pill?
Most women can use the emergency contraceptive pill, even if they can’t take regular contraception such as the combined or mini pill.
Girls under the age of 16 can also use it safely.
There are some instances where you may not be able to take it, such as;
- An allergy to an ingredient in the tablet
- Being severely asthmatic
- Taking a particular medication that interacts with it.
Tell your health care provider what medicines you’re taking, and they can advise you if they’re safe to take with the emergency contraceptive pill.
If you are breast feeding let your health care provider know, this is because ellaOne’s safety in breastfeeding is not yet established meaning levonelle may be your only option as breastfeeding is not recommended for seven days after taking Ella one.
Always read the patient information leaflet before taking any medication.
