- How it works
- When and how to take
- Possible side effects
- 9 Common Questions About the Next Day Pill
- Know if you are pregnant
- Next day pill names
The morning after pill is an emergency contraceptive method, used only when the usual contraceptive method fails or is forgotten. It can be composed of levonorgestrel or ulipristal acetate, which work by delaying or inhibiting ovulation.
Pills containing levonorgestrel can be used up to 3 days after intimate contact and pills containing ulipristal acetate can be used up to 5 days after unprotected sex, however, their effectiveness decreases as the days go by and so taken as soon as possible. They can be purchased at pharmacies and the price can vary between 7 and 36 reais, depending on the active substance used.
How it works
The morning-after pill works by inhibiting or postponing ovulation, making it difficult for sperm to enter the uterus and possibly maturing the oocyte. In addition, it can change hormone levels after ovulation, but it is possible that it works in other ways as well.
Emergency oral contraception has no effect after implantation is complete, not interrupting an ongoing pregnancy, and so the morning-after pill does not cause an abortion.
When and how to take
The morning after pill should be used in emergency cases, whenever there is a risk of unwanted pregnancy, and can be taken in situations such as:
- Sexual intercourse without a condom or breaking the condom. Check out other precautions that should be taken when having sexual intercourse without a condom; Forget taking the regular contraceptive pill, especially if forgetting occurred more than 1 time in the same pack. Also check the care after forgetting to take the contraceptive; Expulsion of the IUD; Displacement or removal of the vaginal diaphragm ahead of time; Cases of sexual violence.
In order for pregnancy to be prevented, the morning-after pill should be taken as soon as possible after unprotected intimate contact or failure of the contraceptive method used regularly.
This pill can be taken any day of the menstrual cycle, and can be taken with water or food. Each box contains only 1 or 2 tablets for single use.
Possible side effects
After use, the woman may experience headache, nausea and tiredness and after a few days may also notice symptoms such as:
- Pain in the breasts; Diarrhea; Small vaginal bleeding; Anticipation or delay of menstruation.
These symptoms are related to the side effects of the medication and it is normal for menstruation to be unregulated for some time. The ideal is to observe these changes and, if possible, note the characteristics of menstruation in the agenda or on the cell phone, so that you can show the gynecologist at a consultation. Learn about the side effects of the morning after pill.
9 Common Questions About the Next Day Pill
Many doubts may arise about the morning after pill. Some of the most common are:
1. Can I get pregnant even if I take the morning-after pill?
Despite being indicated to prevent unwanted pregnancies, the morning after pill is not 100% effective if taken after 72 hours of sexual intercourse. But when it is taken on the same day, it is unlikely that the woman will become pregnant, however, there is this possibility.
The most sensible thing is to wait a few days until menstruation comes, and in case of delay, you can do a pregnancy test that you can buy at the pharmacy. See what are your chances of being pregnant by taking this online test:
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Know if you are pregnant
Start the test
- Yes No
- Yes No
- Yes No
- Yes No
- Yes No
- Yes No
- Yes No
- Yes No
- Yes No
- Yes No
2. Does the morning-after pill delay menstruation?
One of the side effects of the morning after pill is the change in menstruation. Thus, after taking the pills, menstruation can occur up to 10 days before or after the expected date, but in most cases, menstruation occurs on the expected date with a variation of about 3 days more or less. However, if the delay continues, a pregnancy test should be done.
3. Does the morning-after pill miscarry? How it works?
The morning after pill does not abort because it can work in different ways, depending on the phase of the menstrual cycle in which it is used, and can:
- Inhibit or delay ovulation, which prevents the fertilization of the egg by the sperm; Increase the viscosity of the vaginal mucus, making it difficult for the sperm to reach the egg.
So, if ovulation has already occurred or if the egg has already been fertilized, the pill does not prevent the development of pregnancy.
4. How many times can I use it?
This pill should only be used sporadically because it has a very high hormonal dose. In addition, if a woman takes the morning-after pill more than once a month, she may lose its effect. Therefore, this medicine is only indicated for emergency situations and not as a frequent contraceptive method. See which method of preventing pregnancy is right for you by clicking here.
5. Is the morning-after pill bad?
This pill is only harmful if it is used more than 2 times in the same month, which increases the risk of diseases such as breast cancer, uterine cancer, problems in a future pregnancy, and may also increase the risk of thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, for example. example.
6. Does the morning-after pill cause infertility?
There is no scientific evidence that sporadic use of this pill can cause infertility, fetus malformation or ectopic pregnancy.
7. Does the morning-after pill change the way contraceptives work?
No, that is why the birth control pill should continue to be taken regularly, at the usual time, until the end of the pack. After the end of the pack, you should wait for your period to fall and if your period does not fall, you should consult your gynecologist.
8. Does the morning-after pill work in the fertile period?
The morning-after pill has an effect on all days of the month, however, that effect may be diminished during the fertile period, especially if ovulation has already occurred before taking the pill.
This is because the morning after pill works by inhibiting or delaying ovulation and, if it has already occurred, the pill will no longer have that effect. However, the morning-after pill also makes it difficult for the egg and sperm to pass through the fallopian tubes and makes it difficult for the sperm to penetrate the cervical mucus, and in some cases, prevent pregnancy through this mechanism.
9. Does the morning-after pill take effect if unprotected sex occurs after taking it?
No. The morning-after pill is not a contraceptive method and should only be taken in emergency situations. If the person has already taken a pill the next day, as an emergency method, and the day after taking it has unprotected sex, there is a risk of becoming pregnant.
Ideally, the woman should talk to her gynecologist and start taking a contraceptive.
Watch the following video and learn how to calculate the fertile period:
Thus, the morning-after pill is only effective if ovulation has not yet occurred during the first days of the fertile period. If fertilization has already occurred, if there is intimate contact, it is very likely that a pregnancy will occur.
Next day pill names
The morning-after pill can be purchased at pharmacies and also over the internet, without the need for a prescription. Some trade names are Diad, Pilem and Postinor Uno. The pill that can be used up to 5 days after unprotected sex is Ellaone.
However, although it can be purchased without a prescription, this medicine should only be used under medical advice.
