What to Expect When You Take the Morning-After Pill
30 April, 2021 | Brave Agency - Marketing
The morning-after pill is the most common kind of emergency contraception. Emergency contraception is used to prevent pregnancy after having unprotected sex or when the standard birth control method has failed.
The morning-after pill should be treated as a backup method of contraception only, not as the primary way to practice birth control. Morning-after pills like Levonelle and ellaOne contain artificial forms of natural hormones such as Levonorgestrel or Ulipristal Acetate. Ulipristal Acetate is available only with a prescription, whereas Levonorgestrel is available over the counter.
When Is Emergency Birth Control Needed?
If you have unprotected sex, you can use the morning-after pills to prevent pregnancy. You may also need emergency contraception if you forget to take a birth control pill. EC is a way to secure yourself if your usual birth control method fails. If a person is sexually assaulted, emergency contraception becomes essential.
Keep in mind that morning-after pills do not interfere with an artificially implanted pregnancy. Their primary purpose is to delay or prevent ovulation.
Is There Any Risk in Taking the Morning-After Pill?
The morning-after pill is a very effective method of preventing pregnancy after having unprotected sex, but it is not as effective as other, more common birth control methods.
It is not recommended for regular use.
Remember that even if you use the morning-after pill correctly, it can still fail. It is also worth noting that the morning-after pill also doesn’t provide any protection against sexually transmitted diseases.
You should avoid the morning-after pill if:
You are taking any medication that can reduce the effectiveness of the morning-after pill, such as St. John’s Wort or barbiturates.
You are allergic to any of the components of the morning-after pill.
There is also a chance that the morning-after pill would not be very effective in preventing pregnancy if you are obese or overweight. Also, if you are breastfeeding, ulipristal acetate is not recommended.
What Are the Side Effects of the Morning-After Pill?
Typical side effects of the morning after pill last only a few days at most, and they include:
Vomiting or nausea
Fatigue
Dizziness
Headache
Cramps or pain in the lower abdomen
Tenderness of the breasts
Heavier than usual menstrual bleeding, or bleeding in between periods
How Do You Prepare to Take the Morning-After Pill?
For the most effective results, take the morning-after pill as soon as possible after having unprotected sex. Take the pill up to 120 hours of having intercourse. You can take the morning-after pills any time during your menstrual cycle.
What Should You Expect From the Morning-After Pill?
You should follow the instructions that come with the morning-after pill. If you use Levonelle, take one pill as soon as possible up to 72 hours of having unprotected intercourse. If you use ellaOne, take one pill as soon as you can after unprotected sex, up to 120 hours of intercourse.
If the morning-after pill makes you vomit within two hours of taking it, ask your doctor if you should take another pill.
Don’t have sex, protected or unprotected, until you start a more typical contraception method. If you have unprotected sex in the days and weeks after using the morning-after pill, you will be at risk of getting pregnant, so be sure to use or resume your usual method of birth control.
When you use the morning-after pill, your period may get delayed by up to one week. If you don’t get your period within 3 to 4 weeks of taking the morning-after pill, you should take a test to see if you are pregnant.
Typically, you don’t need to tell your doctor after using the morning-after pill. However, if you have spotting or bleeding that lasts more than a week, or if you develop severe pain in your lower abdomen 3 to 5 weeks after taking the morning-after pill, you must tell your doctor. They will study these signs and identify chances of miscarriage or egg misplacement. Your doctor can give you the best advice if your side effects from the morning-after pill last longer than a week.
Where to Get the Morning-After Pill
You can discuss with your doctor or licensed medical practitioner to determine which form of emergency contraception is suitable for you. To purchase the morning after pill online, you need not look any further than our very own store at iQ Doctor!
iQ Doctor is your one-stop shop for buying the morning-after pill. We offer the two most popular types of morning-after pill available on the market, ‘Levonelle’ and ‘ellaOne’.
If you need a contraceptive pill for emergency use to prevent getting pregnant, iQ Doctor is here for you. Order the morning-after pills online from the comfort of your own home and have them delivered to your home within 1 to 2 working days. iQ Doctor provides multiple sexual health, fertility, and birth control products.
Visit iQ Doctor Online Pharmacy to find more products and see what’s right for you.
Reviewed By
Omar El-Gohary
The superintendent and lead pharmacist - registration number 2059792.
Omar is passionate about developing healthcare technology to empower our patients.