To lower the chances of an unplanned pregnancy, many women use emergency contraceptive pill options like Plan B, ulipristal acetate (Ella), etc. This is different from regular birth control pills. A morning-after pill is usually taken after missing a contraceptive pill, unprotected intercourse, condom leakage/breakage, etc. It is a backup option to prevent a pregnancy when other general methods to stop a pregnancy from occurring fail.  The most popular alternative here is Plan B. It contains levonorgestrel.

While there is no 100% guarantee that a pregnancy will not take place after taking the emergency contraceptive pill, it is a dependable measure nonetheless. It is important to understand how to take the morning-after pill, how it works, precautions, morning-after pill side effects, and other information to use the medicine effectively.

What Is Emergency Contraception?

Just like the term suggests, an emergency contraceptive pill is a contingency plan when unprotected sex happens. The window of time is short for taking the medicine right after such intimacy. Pills like Plan B have synthetic hormones that prevent fertilization, delay ovulation, and stop implantation. This is how the morning-after pill safeguards you against an undesired pregnancy.

· You may use condoms, but they may tear. You may have missed a dose of birth control pills or otherwise. In these cases, knowing how to take the morning-after pill at the right time can save you from getting pregnant.

·These pills are not your routine birth control medications. While general contraceptive pills are taken daily or at particular intervals, a Plan B pill is taken within a certain number of hours just after unprotected intercourse.

·This medication may not protect you from STIs (sexually transmitted infections), but proven effective in reducing the risk of conceiving. Thus, an emergency contraceptive pill assures pregnancy protection in unexpected situations.

·It is a literal ‘plan B’ if regular birth control methods do not work or you doubt them to fail, and offers a safe substitute – that one chance you still have to stop yourself from conceiving.

How Does the Morning-After Pill Work?

The morning-after pill Plan B impacts the reproductive processes happening inside the body, i.e., ovulation and fertilization. Its work differs from regular contraceptive medicines and options. The latter manages menstrual cycles as well, which is not the primary intention of Plan B. Rather, an emergency contraceptive pill has a higher hormone dose in one tablet to disrupt the ovulatory function and prevent fertilization. Since Plan B has levonorgestrel, it is possible to stay away from getting pregnant if you take the medicine within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse.

However, Ulipristal acetate (Ella) is effective for up to 5 days following unprotected sex. Both Ella and Plan B have minor chances of not working as intended, especially if taken outside the effectiveness window. Remember, these pills do not terminate an existing pregnancy, but they prevent a pregnancy from starting at all. Right from knowing the action mechanism, morning-after pill side effects, and timing to take the medicine, there is more to learn:

1.    Mechanisms of Action

Here is a detailed brief on how a morning-after pill works:

·In ovulation, the ovary releases a mature egg. However, Plan B and other emergency contraceptive pills delay or prevent this process so that there is no egg for sperm to fertilize.

·The emergency contraceptive pill may also change the consistency of cervical mucus. This may become thicker. So, it is harder for the sperm to go past the cervix and enter the uterus to reach the egg.

·The medication then sheds the uterine lining, or rather makes it too thin for implantation. This means even if fertilization happens, the fertilized egg cannot attach to the uterus wall to cause a pregnancy.

·The morning after pill side effects are bleeding first after shedding of the endometrial lining. You will experience period-like bleeding, which means the fertilized egg, if any, disperses before getting implanted. And the uterine lining does not exist to cause a pregnancy.

·Some people confuse a morning-after pill for an abortion pill or pregnancy termination product. However, this is untrue. Plan B prevents a pregnancy and does not end an established pregnancy, unlike abortion pills.

2.  Timing Matters

An emergency contraceptive pill works more effectively the sooner you use it:

·If you can have the medicine within 24 hours of unprotected intercourse, the chances of Plan B working increase, and the risk of an unplanned pregnancy reduces.

·While a 72-hour timeline after intimacy is still when the pill may work, we recommend taking the pill sooner, if possible, for maximum protection.

·The success rate of Plan B (up to 3 days protection) or Ella (up to 5 days protection) decreases the longer you wait to use the medicine. Ovulation chances are high if you are involved in intercourse during your fertile window.

·So, if you ask how to take the morning-after pill after intercourse? We would say, take the pill orally with water as soon as possible after the activity. This will improve the chances of avoiding a pregnancy.

Should You Take the Morning-After Pill?

If you experienced unprotected intercourse for any reason and do not want to get pregnant, then it is a good idea to take a morning-after pill for not just pregnancy prevention, but peace of mind as well. Birth control pills missed dose, condom mishaps, steamy moments where it is obvious to miss using a contraceptive – all may raise the risk of a pregnancy occurrence. With an emergency contraceptive pill, you get a safety net against pregnancy worry and conception when you do not want one.

1.    Things to Consider

Apart from how to take the morning-after pill, the action mechanism, success ratio, and other information, here are other things to consider:

·A morning-after pill reduces pregnancy risk by 75% to 89%. It gives a fair chance of staying protected from conceiving, but is not entirely 100% successful.

·It is possible to encounter morning-after pill side effects because of the hormone dose. These may include temporary episodes of nausea, headache, dizziness, breast tenderness, fatigue, irregular bleeding, or abdominal discomfort. These usually fade in a few days.

·Before you use an emergency contraceptive pill, if you have any allergies or existing medical conditions, consult a professional to know if there is any risk of interactions or contraindications.

·In women with a weight above 155 lbs (70 kg), levonorgestrel-based medicines are less effective. Thus, body weight also matters in determining how well Plan B may work for an individual.

After Taking the Morning-After Pill

Following an emergency contraceptive pill administration, pay attention to how the body reacts to the medicine, and what to check or think about next:

1.    Monitor Side Effects

Experiencing some morning-after pill side effects after use? Here is what to do:

·The side effects, if any, are unharmful, short-lived, and expected to be normal due to changes in hormones. You must not worry about these as most are self-manageable at home.

·If any symptoms extend in duration or appear to be severe, like heavy irregular bleeding, intense abdominal pain, persistent dizziness, then seek medical attention at the soonest.

·In case you vomit immediately or within 2 hours after taking Plan B, then you may have to take another dose. This is because the medicine may not have had time to get absorbed in the body.

2.    Pregnancy Risk

Even after taking an emergency contraceptive pill, there may be a small risk of a pregnancy taking place. So, here is what to do next:

·As understood, a morning-after pill does not eliminate the chances of a pregnancy. However, the high efficacy of the pill does reduce the pregnancy risk considerably.

·Keep a note of pregnancy symptoms such as a missed period, fatigue, nausea, breast tenderness, etc.

·If you doubt a pregnancy, get a pregnancy test as soon as possible. So, if your period is delayed for more than a week, it is time to check for pregnancy.

Morning-After Pill vs. Abortion Pill

Clarifying misunderstandings about the morning-after pill and abortion pill being the same is crucial:

·While the abortion pill (Mifepristone plus Misoprostol) is used to end an existing pregnancy, an emergency contraceptive pill prevents pregnancy before it even happens.

·While emergency contraception can postpone ovulation or fertilization, it is unable to terminate a pregnancy once implantation happens.

·Contrarily, the abortion pill Mifepristone disrupts the hormones (progesterone) to shed the uterine lining and dislodge the pregnancy in the uterus, and expel the products with the use of Misoprostol.

·Thus, the two medication types, i.e., morning-after pill and abortion pill, serve different purposes, though related to pregnancy. While the former does not allow pregnancy to happen, the next option is designed to terminate an ongoing early pregnancy.

Frequently Asked Questions About Morning After Pill

Here are some common queries about the morning-after pill (Plan B), which is also known as the emergency contraceptive pill:

1.    How soon should I take the morning-after pill?

You must consume the morning-after pill as soon as possible. The best efficacy is taking the pill within 24 hours after unprotected intercourse. However, Plan B can stay active for up to 72 hours, while ulipristal acetate may last for up to 5 days.

2.    Can I take the morning-after pill multiple times?

Yes, you may choose to take an emergency contraceptive pill several times to protect against a pregnancy from happening. However, it is not advisable to use it as a routine birth control measure. You must use regular birth control pills, implants, IUDs, or other alternatives to practice contraception. Plan B must be used as a backup plan only if possible.

3.    Is the morning-after pill safe for everyone?

Most adult women can tolerate the emergency contraception pill pretty well. They may not report any complications. However, morning-after pill side effects are possible, yet temporary and easily manageable. Thus, it is overall safe for females.

4.    What if I vomit after taking a morning-after pill?

If the emergency contraceptive pill is purged out of the system, like through vomiting within 2 hours of consumption, there is a risk of the pill not being properly dissolved and absorbed in the bloodstream. Take another dose at the earliest in such circumstances.