Emergency Contraceptives
What happens when birth control fails?
Emergency Contraceptives, or the “Morning After Pill” is an over-the-counter medication that prevents pregnancy from occurring. It contains the hormone levonorgestrel. This hormone prevents or delays ovulation, the first step in any pregnancy. However, the Morning After Pill is not 100% effective. 1 out of 8 women who take the morning-after pill are likely to become pregnant.
The pill should be taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex but is most effective when taken within 24 hours. The Morning After Pill is not intended to be a reliable source of birth control. It is only to be taken if your primary source of birth control fails, or in cases of unprotected sex.
The Morning After Pill will not protect you from pregnancy if you have unprotected sex after taking it. If you have not gotten your period more than a week after expected, you may be pregnant. Hope Clinic recommends scheduling an appointment now for a free pregnancy test.
Side Effects
Some women experience the following side effects after taking the Morning After Pill:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Menstrual Cramps
- Vaginal Bleeding or Spotting
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Dizziness
If you are experiencing an allergic reaction to the Morning After Pill, seek professional medical help immediately. Allergic reactions to any drug are life-threatening, and left untreated, could be fatal.
Frequently Asked Questions
You should only take the morning-after pill as intended. This is a recommendation of the FDA.
No. The Morning After Pill will stop a pregnancy from occurring, but not to protect you from STD/STI’s. The best way to avoid getting STDs is to limit sexual contact to only one uninfected partner.
No. The Morning After Pill (Plan B) is an over-the-counter medication taken to prevent pregnancy. The Abortion Pill is a set of medications prescribed by a doctor to terminate an already existing pregnancy.
The content on this page has been reviewed and approved by our Medical Director Dr. Jennifer Bailey.