About morning after pill

The morning after pill is an emergency contraception that stops you from becoming pregnant. This contraceptive pill is meant only for birth control, which is to be used on an emergency basis, and only if you believe that there has been a failure in your current attempt of birth control such as tearing of a condom during copulation or any other precautionary method.

Availability of morning after pill

A morning after pill is easily available at your local pharmacy store and can be obtained without any prescription.

How to take morning after pill?

It has to be taken in two doses. Take the first dose within 72 hours of unprotected sex and take the second pill within 12 hours after taking the first dose. After taking these two doses, do not engage in unprotected sex.

How does morning after pill work?

The morning after pill prevents the ovaries from releasing an egg and alters the lining of the womb that prevents implant of a fertilized egg in the womb.

Effectiveness of the morning after pill

The morning after pill is not 100% effective, but the failure rate is as low as 10% if not taken early. It can be as effective as 98 – 99% if you take these pills early.

Who is suitable for taking the pill?

Majority of women can use the morning after pill, including those, who have a past history of breast cancer, or are more than 35 years of age and were advised on not to consume birth control pills on regular basis. However, it is advisable that women who have severe liver diseases or are suffering from porphyria should refrain from taking morning after pill. In addition, the morning after pill does not work for pregnant women.

Who will benefit from the pill?

Women who do not want to get pregnant can benefit heavily from this pill.

Couples who have a condom break during sexual intercourse.

Women enticed to have sex under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

What are the side effects?

The morning after pill side effects include, fatigue, nausea, headache, dizziness, abdominal pain, irregular bleeding, and breast tenderness. However, as it is a short-term treatment, these side effects resolve once you complete two doses.

Does the pill affect fertility?

It does not affect fertility in any way and your fertility returns immediately after your next period.

Important things to know about taking morning after pill:

Did you have sexual intercourse without taking adequate protection and are now afraid of getting pregnant? You needn’t worry, as you can now count on the morning after pills, a form of emergency birth control, have come to your rescue. You need to know that, they are not same as abortion pills and are regarded as one of the safest modes of avoiding pregnancy.

These pills terminate unwanted pregnancy by interrupting the process of ovulation and fertilization. They are most effective in terminating pregnancy when consumed within 72 hours of having unprotected sex. Some important facts about these contraceptive pills are as follows:

If you suffer from any other morning after pill symptoms such as severe pain in your leg, severe abdominal pain, severe headaches, weakness, numbness and dizziness, blurred or loss of vision, breathlessness and cough or chest pain,  it is advised that you immediately contact your personal physician, who will then properly examine you and recommend proper measures.

It is advised that you always keep the morning after pills in their pill case. Also, you need to consume these pills only after consulting your physician or a health advisor.