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Emergency Contraceptive Pill:
Emergency
contraceptive pill is also known as "morning after pill" is designed to protect
women from unwanted or unintended pregnancy after the unprotected intercourse
has occurred. It is very important to note here that emergency contraceptive pill
(ECP) is only to be used during "emergency" cases where woman is afraid of being
pregnant after unprotected sex has occurred and is not willing to conceive. It
is only one time solution when contraception methods have failed. It will not
work if pregnancy is already confirmed.
Pregnancy does not occur immediately
after the unprotected intercourse (but only in rare cases). However, sperm can
remain live in the body for upto five days and ovulation can happen within these
days or may take several days more. Hence, it is recommended to have emergency
birth control pills immediately after the unprotected intercourse to avoid any
chances of getting pregnant.
Emergency contraceptive pill is usually supplied
in two doses. One pill should be taken immediately after the unprotected sexual
intercourse has occurred followed by another pill after exactly 12 hours of the
first dose. The first pill dose can be taken upto maximum 72 hours i.e 3 days,
however, its effectiveness will be reduced if had taken immediately or within
3-24 hours. Once the first dose is taken, it is advisable for women to use other
form of birth control methods like condoms, diaphragms and spermicides until next
menstrual cycle, if they desire to have vaginal intercourse.
Women who
are using birth control methods like they are already taking birth control pills,
birth control patch, contraceptive ring, injections should first consult their
doctor or healthcare professional before deciding to go for emergency contraceptive
pills.
Emergency contraceptive pills are available in combined hormones
i.e estrogen and progestin as well as progestin-only. They prevent the pregnancy
in three ways
1. It stops the ovulation (i.e ovary does not release the egg)
2. It stops the sperm to penetrate
3. It thickens the lining in uterus
making it hard for sperm to fertilize the egg
Emergency contraceptive pills
vs Abortion pill:
ECP should not be taken as abortion pill. It can only
be used to avoid unwanted pregnancy after the unprotected intercourse by stopping
ovulation and fertilization of egg with the sperm. It will not work if woman is
already pregnant. Abortion pill, on the other hand, is designed to prevent the
development of placenta as well as to expel the egg from uterus while fetus development
is already in process.
Effectiveness of Emergency Contraception Pill:
Its
effectiveness is depended upon the type of medicine as well as you follow the
instruction. Progestin-only ECP is 89% effective in protecting against unwanted
pregnancy whereas two-hormones, estrogen & progestin ECPs are 75% effective. In
most cases, pill like Plan B can be effective upto 95% if taken immediately after
the contraception failure.
If you do not get the periods in the next menstrual
cycle, you might be pregnant. Please consult your doctor or healthcare professional
or obstetrician-gynecologist (ObGyn). Study has shown no adverse effects on mother
or developing fetus even if pregnancy has occurred inspite of taking emergency
contraceptive pill. In cases where pregnancy occurs despite use of the morning
after pill, recent research suggests that there are no adverse consequences for
the mother or her developing fetus.
Please note that ECP or morning after
pills do not protect against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) or HIV AIDS
viruses. It can also not to be used as regular birth control pills but it is only
one-time solution against unwanted pregnancy.
On August 24, 2006, Food and
Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the Plan
B Levonorgestrel contraceptive pill for sale without prescription for women
18 years and older. Please visit at to know more about this pill, risk and side
effects.
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of Emergency Contraceptive Pill
