If you have experienced unprotected sex within the past three days, forgot to take your usual birth control pill or the condom broke during intercourse, you may be able to prevent an unplanned pregnancy with the use of emergency birth control. Emergency contraception is a specific pill that provides a dose of levonorgestrel, which is a progestogen-like hormone. Levonorgestrel has been used for several years in popular birth control pills.
You may be able to obtain emergency contraception from:
- family planning centres
- hospitals
- local pharmacy or chemist
- sexual health centres
- women’s health centres
Emergency birth control is typically taken as a single dose tablet, but is also available as a two tablet dose that is also taken as a single dose. Available without the requirement of a prescription, emergency contraception is often referred to as the morning-after pill. However, the pill can actually be effective up to 72 hours after the instance of unprotected sex.
Is the emergency contraceptive effective?
Emergency birth control may work in a few different ways, including:
- Delaying ovulation, which is the release of the egg from the ovaries
- Stopping sperm from fertilising a released egg
- Stopping a fertilised egg from implanting in the uterus after ovulation as taken place
While oral emergency birth control may be effective in the prevention of pregnancy, it will not work if you are already pregnant. Emergency contraception is estimated to prevent as much as 85% of instances of expected pregnancy. Even though emergency birth control is suitable for most people, some may not be able to use it.
When to take emergency contraceptive
Emergency contraception is most effective when it is taken as soon as possible following the instance of unprotected sex, especially within the first 72 hours.
The single dose of emergency birth control should be taken within three days after you have unprotected sex in order to help with the prevention of unwanted pregnancy. However, the earlier it is taken the more effective it will be.
In addition, if you have unprotected sex again during the same menstrual cycle, the emergency contraception will not provide effective protection against pregnancy.
How It Affects Your Period
After using emergency contraception, most women will have their period around the expected time. Emergency contraception may be taken at any time during the menstrual cycle unless the period is late.
What to Do When You Miss A Few ‘Pills’
If you have missed a dose of your regular contraceptive pill and you did not follow the instructions for a ‘missed pill’, you may be able to take emergency birth control to prevent unplanned pregnancy. Do not take any of the following:
- Any pills that you missed
- The pill for the day that you take the emergency contraception treatment
- The pill for the following day
Then, you can continue to take your regular birth control pill as normal. Keep in mind that some sort of barrier method, such as a condom, should be used for the next seven days. During this time, disregard any inactive, or placebo, pills and start a new pack.
References
- Bayer Group, Emergency contraception
- ReachOut.com, Conception and pregnancy, What is the emergency contraceptive pill?
- Family Planning Queensland, Emergency Contraception (EC)
- Better Health Channel, Relationships and family, Sexual health – Contraception, Contraception – emergency contraception
- Planned Parenthood Upper Hudson, Inc., Emergency Contraception
- Family Planning NSW, Health Information, Emergency Contraception
- myDr for a healthy Australia, Babies & Pregnancy, Emergency contraception – morning-after pill
- Ninemsn, Health & Wellbeing, Health, Family, The morning after pill
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