Emergency contraception
Options for emergency contraception
Emergency contraception (EC) can drastically reduce the chances of an unwanted
pregnancy. There are two basic forms of emergency contraception available – the “morning after pill” and the intrauterine device (IUD).
Morning after pill
Many of you may have heard of the
morning after pill. It is about 75% effective in preventing
pregnancy and is most effective if administered within 60 hours after unprotected intercourse. The most common type of
emergency contraception consists of a higher than normal dosage of certain brands of combination birth control pills. These pills are called combination pills because they contain a combination of two common female hormones, estrogen and progestin. There is also a second type of morning after pill available that contains only
progestin. Two dosages of these pills are administered 12 hours apart as soon as possible and within 72 hours (3 days) after the act of unprotected sex has taken place. If more than 72 hours (3 days) has elapsed since intercourse, then the
morning after pill is no longer an option for you. Both types of morning after pills work in similar ways. They may work by either stopping an egg from being released (ovulation), by preventing fertilization of an egg that has already released, or by stopping a fertilized egg from implanting in the soft lining of the uterus. After intercourse has occurred, and an egg is fertilized, it takes about 72 hours for that fertilized egg to travel from the fallopian tubes to implant itself into the lush uterine lining. This is where the egg will grow and mature into a full term baby over the next nine months. The sooner the pills are taken after sexual intercourse, the more likely they are to be effective in preventing pregnancy.
Side effects of the morning after pill
As with any medication, the morning after pill does have certain side effects. The most common side effects are nausea, breast tenderness, and fluid retention. Another possibility is that you may experience irregular bleeding after taking the
morning after pill. This may take the form of spotting, or your period may start earlier than usual. If your next period is late, it is imperative that you go to your doctor immediately for a pregnancy
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