Not yet prepared for embracing parenthood?

Had unprotected sex? Forgot to take the pill? Worried about getting pregnant? Don’t panic. Morning-after pill is there to rescue you from such unpredictable situations.

The morning-after pill is a birth control option that is effective for usage during emergency conditions. This pill is most effective in preventing unwanted pregnancies if it’s taken immediately after an unprotected sex .

Now a series of questions may pop up in your mind such as what is a morning after pill, how does it work, when to take it and how to get it.

Well, in this blog, Karetrip will provide information about everything you need to know about the morning-after pill.

Understanding different types of morning-after pill

Usually after unprotected sex or when contraception has failed morning after pill is used to prevent unwanted pregnancies. There are different types of morning after pill which are used in emergency situations.

Levonorgestrel pills

Levonorgestrel pills is a type of oral pill which contains levonorgestrel and is consumed immediately to prevent pregnancy.

This pill should be taken immediately within the first three days (72 hours) after unprotected sex for better results. They are a single-dose tablet.The most common brand name for this medication is Plan B.

According to researchers , levonorgestrel pills are shown to be 89% effective when consumed up to 72 hours (3 days) after unprotected intercourse.

They will work even after 5 days or 120 hours but with less efficiency. This pill is said to be effective for people with a BMI of 24 or less. This can be very less effective or potentially ineffective for people with BMI of 25 or higher.

This is available in the drugstore without any prescription. Even online retailers also sell this medication. You will even get this medication at your local health department or community clinic. They are usually less expensive.

Ulipristal Acetate Pills

This pill is said to be more effective when taken at any point within 120 hours (5 days) after unprotected sex than any other emergency contraceptive pill option. This pill uses a non hormonal ingredient ulipristal acetate in order to block the hormone progesterone which delays ovulation for 120 hours (5 days).

Before the release of the egg , this will give sperm time to die off. Even if sperm can fertilise the egg , implantation does not occur as this will thin the uterine lining by blocking progesterone.

Ella is said to be effective for people with a BMI of 30 or less. It can be potentially ineffective for people with a BMI of 35 and more. This was according to the study conducted by Planned Parenthood.

This is a prescription medicine. Consult with your primary care healthcare professional or gynecologist before purchasing it. This pill is very cheap and even some providers offer this medication for free or at a reduced cost.

How Does the Morning-After Pill Work?

Morning after pill works effectively in preventing pregnancies by adopting three ways as follows:

Inhibition of Ovulation: These pills are powerful in causing delay or preventing the release of an egg from the ovary. By doing so these pills ensure that the sperm present in the reproductive tract do not reach the egg and result in fertilization. Thus in one way morning pills obstruct the ovulation process to prevent unexpected pregnancies.

Alteration of the Uterine Lining: Morning after pills play a significant role in altering the endometrial lining of the uterus ,making it less conducive to the implantation of a fertilized egg.The implantation of embryo is prevented immediately once the pill is consumed.

Thickening of Cervical Mucus: These pills result in the thickening of cervical mucus thereby making it more difficult for the sperm to travel through the cervix to reach an egg for fertilization.

Morning After Pill- When to Use?

You might use the morning after pill if:

• You had unprotected sex

• The condom broke during sex

• You missed one or more of your usual contraceptive pills

• You take a contraceptive pill and have been vomiting or had diarrhoea (which can stop your normal contraceptive pill from working)

• You were sexually assaulted

Side Effects of the Morning-After Pill

Changes to your normal menstrual cycles (your period might be earlier or later than normal). Spotting (light bleeding).

• Nausea and vomiting.

• Tiredness (fatigue).

• Headaches and dizziness.

• Pain in your abdomen or breast.

• Nausea

• Belly pain

• Fatigue

• Headache

• Menstrual changes

• Dizziness

• Breast tenderness

• Vomiting

How Effective is the Emergency Contraceptive Pill?

The risk of pregnancy is reduced by approximately 89% when Levonorgestrel-based pills are taken within 72 hours.

But Ulipristal acetate pills are more effective when compared to Levonorgestrel based pills and when consumed within 120 hrs, contain an efficacy rate of around 85-95%.

For women with a higher body mass index (BMI), using such pills seem of not much benefits.Based on several researches conducted, it can be said that for a women with a BMI over 25 levonorgestrel-based pills would not be a suitable choice.

Even though ulipristal acetate has higher efficacy comparatively, it is still less effective in women with a BMI over 35.

Effectiveness of Morning- After Pills In Comparison to Other Contraceptive Techniques

It is not at all advisable to use morning after pills as the primary method of contraception on a regular basis . Its usage is recommended only during emergency situations.

Using morning after pills are less effective at preventing STIs when compared to other methods of contraception such as condoms, intrauterine devices (IUDs), conception prevention pills, or preventative inserts.