You wake up after a fun (or questionable) night to realize you probably weren’t as careful as you should have been. Most commonly associated with one-night stands, the morning after pill is taken by countless women each year to protect from unwanted pregnancies; usually when no contraception was used or the primary form of birth control failed.
As with most forms of birth control, there can be a stigma surrounding the use of emergency contraception. Understand, though, that usually when you’re feeling guilt or shame around contraception, that is your own perceptions and feelings. No one is really judging you and if they are, it’s not their life, it’s yours! Emergency contraception is slightly easier to get than regular birth control given that you can get it without a prescription. You do still have to go to a pharmacy or clinic to get it, though.
Types of Emergency Contraception
There are two types of emergency contraception: two types of emergency contraceptive pills (the morning after pill) and the IUD (intrauterine device).
Emergency contraceptive pills are like one-time birth control pills that are most effective in the first 12 hours after unprotected sex, hence the nickname of the morning after pill. There are two different pills you can take: ellaOne and Levonelle. EllaOne contains ulipristal acetate which interferes with the production of progesterone. This prevents or delays ovulation so you don’t get pregnant. Levonelle is the most widely prescribed emergency contraceptive pill in the UK. It contains levonorgestrel, the synthetic form of progesterone, and works by also preventing or delaying ovulation.
How Effective are Emergency Contraceptive Pills?
EllaOne and levonelle effectiveness are the same and most effective within the first twelve hours, but Levonelle must be taken within 72 hours whereas ellaOne can be taken within 120 hours.
According to Simple Online Pharmacy, experts state that ellaOne is up to 95% effective when taken in the first 48 and 120 hours following unprotected sex and the success rate stays stable over the 120 hour period. In contrast, Levonelle’s effectiveness decreases over the period in which it can be taken. It is more effective the sooner you take it.
Levonelle is:
95% effective if taken within 12 hours of unprotected sex
85% effective if taken between 12- 24 hours of unprotected sex
75% effective if taken between 24- 48 hours of unprotected sex
58% effective if taken between 48- 72 hours of unprotected sex
Where Can I Get These Pills?
Both pills can be purchased without a prescription and from a pharmacy. There are online pharmacies that can deliver it to you the next day, but getting a pill directly from a local pharmacy will ensure that you take it in time.
It is important to note that emergency contraception is not effective for ending already viable pregnancies. This is why it’s so important to take the pill as soon as possible after unprotected sex. Emergency contraception is not recommended for use in place of regular birth control, but it can be taken multiple times in the same menstrual cycle.
The IUD is another option for emergency contraception. IUDs are small, T-shaped devices made of copper (non-hormonal) or plastic (contains hormones). An IUD can be placed up to 5 days after unprotected sex and can stay in as your regular form of birth control for 3-7 years, depending on the brand.
Side Effects of Emergency Contraception
While some women report no side effects after taking emergency contraception, there are a few things to look out for. If you experience vomiting or diarrhea within the first few hours of taking the pill, your body may have not had enough time to absorb the hormones and you may need a second dose. Certain medications such as those treating epilepsy, HIV, and even the herb St. John’s Wort can also decrease the effectiveness of emergency contraception, so talk with your doctor if any of these apply to you before taking the morning after pill.
Some women experience stomach pain, spotting, headaches, and dizziness after taking the morning after pill. Speak with your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms and are concerned.
Remember Self Care
Since there can be side effects after taking emergency contraceptive pills, plan on having some down time for the remainder of the day you take it. It is completely within your right to take emergency contraception and it’s much easier than having to consider other options if you do end up with an unplanned and unwanted pregnancy.
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