Morning after pills will likely be among other family planning methods such as condoms. [2] X Trustworthy Source American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Professional association of OB/GYNs focused on education and public outreat initiatives Go to source If you don’t see the morning after pill on the shelves, visit the pharmaceuticals counter and ask there. There may be generic and brand name options. Both are equally effective and you can decide based on budget and if you’re sensitive to any of the active ingredients. Be aware that some stores may not sell the morning after pill because of the company’s moral code. Consider calling ahead of time if you have reason to suspect the store’s owners might be opposed to family planning.
The morning after pill may not have any cost, or a clinic may price it on a sliding scale for those that can’t afford full price. [4] X Trustworthy Source American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Professional association of OB/GYNs focused on education and public outreat initiatives Go to source You will be asked about your income and insurance to determine your fee. If you live in the United States, see if there’s a Planned Parenthood Health Center near you: https://www. plannedparenthood. org/health-center Most universities have a health center that may offer emergency contraception. If you are not sure how or when it is available, ask a member of staff or talk to the nurse.
You will have to explain the situation to your doctor and she may then prescribe emergency contraception for you. She may also suggest using a regular form of birth control. The most common prescription pill is Plan B. NorLevo is not as effective in women with a BMI over 35; the case may be the same with other brands of the morning after pill. [5] X Research source Bear in mind that you should get the pill as soon as possible, as the effectiveness decreases over time.
Be aware that many states require women under the age of 17 to get a prescription for morning after pills. [7] X Trustworthy Source National Conference of State Legislatures Bipartisan, nongovernment organization serving the members of state legislatures and their constituents Go to source You can take the pill anytime during your menstrual cycle. The morning after pill is a safe and effective way to prevent pregnancy. However, you shouldn’t use this as a regular form of birth control.
The morning after pill may be less effective for women with a Body Mass Index (BMI) over 25. Certain medications such as barbiturates, or other supplements such as St. John’s Wort may decrease the effectiveness of the morning after pill. If you are allergic to any component of the morning after pill, it may be less effective.
You may experience nausea or vomiting after taking the morning after pill. You may feel tired, dizzy, or have a headache after taking the morning after pill. You may have breast tenderness, and lower abdominal pain or cramping after taking the morning after pill. You may experience bleeding between periods or heavier menstrual cramps after taking the morning after pill. Contact your doctor immediately if you experience bleeding or spotting that lasts longer than a week or if you have severe abdominal pain 3-5 weeks after taking the morning after pill. This can help rule out an ectopic pregnancy.
Don’t repeat the entire process, just the dosage you threw up. You may need to take an anti-nausea medication to help your stomach.
You’re much more likely to have nausea, vomiting, and other side effects from using multiple forms of emergency contraception. [11] X Trustworthy Source National Health Service (UK) Public healthcare system of the UK Go to source
Consider using condoms as your backup form of contraception. Use backup contraception for 14 days after taking the morning after pill.
You can also call 1-800-PLAN to discuss your options with a Planned Parenthood representative. Depending on the kind of oral contraceptive, one dose may be 4 or 5 pills.
Take your first dose up to 5 days or up to 120 hours after unprotected sex. Take the second dose 12 hours after the first dose. An hour more or less won’t make a difference.
If you experience severe stomach pain, seek medical attention.
For example, if you are in a long term relationship and want to wait a few years to have children, you might opt for a long term birth control method such as an intrauterine device (IUD). If you have multiple partners, you may opt for birth control pills and condoms to protect from pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. Consider questions such as “do I want to plan every time I have sex?,” “do I want to remember to take a pill every day?,” “do I want to end my fertility permanently?”. [17] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source You’ll also want to think about your health. For example, if you suffer from migraines, birth control pills may not be a good choice for you.
If used properly, these methods can help protect against pregnancy, but you may want to use a secondary method to help ensure that you don’t get pregnant. For example, if you’re using condoms, which have a failure rate of 2-18%, you may want to also use a spermicide. The advantage to barrier methods is that they also protect against STIs.
Hormonal birth control, such as pills, patches, and vaginal rings may increase your blood pressure and affect your cholesterol. [22] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source Barrier methods such as condoms, spermicides, and caps can cause allergic reactions and may increase your risk for urinary tract infections or STDs. The risks for long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) methods include perforation of the uterus, increased risk of pelvic inflammatory disease and ectopic pregnancy, and pain and heavy menstrual bleeding.
