Morning After Pill
You had sex. You think you might be pregnant. Now what?
You have heard of the Morning After Pill (also known as emergency contraception or Plan B®) as a quick and easy answer for unprotected sex, but there are some important things you should know before taking the pill.
How is the Morning After Pill taken?
The Morning After Pill is taken in two doses. The first pill must be taken within the first 72 hours after intercourse. The second pill is taken 12 hours later.
How does the Morning After Pill work?
The way in which the Morning After Pill works depends on what point you are in your menstrual cycle. One of three things may happen. The Morning After Pill may:
- Stop the release of an egg from the ovary.
- Prevent the fertilization of an egg (the uniting of sperm with the egg).
- Prevent the already fertilized egg (embryo) from attaching to the uterus (womb). This causes an already fertilized egg to be expelled from the womb, causing an early abortion.
When does pregnancy begin?
From the moment the sperm and egg unite in the fallopian tube and fertilization occurs, the genetic make-up of the baby is complete, including the sex of the child. This is the beginning of pregnancy.
Important Warnings
The Morning After Pill has possible side effects:
- Approximately 1 out of 4 women studied experience menstrual bleeding and nausea.
- Approximately 1 out of 5 women studied experience abdominal pain, fatigue, and headache.
Other side effects include:
- Changes in menstrual cycle
- Breast tenderness
- Dizziness
- Vomiting
Also, you may be at an increased risk of having an ectopic pregnancy (a pregnancy developing somewhere other than in the uterus) should you take the morning after pill and become pregnant. Ectopic pregnancies can be, on rare occasion, fatal if you are not able to identify it and get medical attention immediately.
Does it work?
The morning after pill is not 100% effective:
Plan B® can be up to 89% effective. It is most effective when used within 24 hours of intercourse.
Has Plan B® been tested?
The Morning After Pill has not been adequately studied and tested. Before this drug can be confirmed as safe, additional tests will be necessary to determine:
- Effects on women under the age of sixteen
- Effects when interacting with other drugs
- Effects on people with preexisting medical conditions
- Effects on women's ovulation and fertility
- Effects on fetal growth and development
Other Dangers
Due to the risk of serious health problems, women with the following conditions may not be able to use the Morning After Pill:
- Established pregnancy
- Past heart attack or stroke
- Blood clots in the legs or lungs
- Breast cancer
- Liver cancer
The Morning After Pill is not recommended for women who plan to have intercourse within 5 days, are breastfeeding or have given birth in the last 6 weeks, have epilepsy, cardiovascular or kidney disease, migraine headaches, diabetes or hypertension.
The Morning After Pill will not work as intended if your pregnancy has already proceeded to the point of implantation. You should take a pregnancy test before taking the Morning After Pill.
Ask yourself these three questions before you take the Morning After Pill:
- Could I already be pregnant from an earlier act of intercourse?
- Do I already have some of the symptoms of pregnancy?
- Am I concerned about taking medication that hasn’t been in existence long enough for extended medical studies?
If you have answered “Yes” to any of these questions then find out for sure if you are pregnant by scheduling an appointment with Real Options for Women.
Call 972.424.4357 or 972.424.0767 or e-mail us at info@realoptionsforwomen.com.