what is the morning-after pill?

Question

and how well does it work?

Answer 1

It is NOT an abortion pill; it is emergency contraception. Basically, it's a higher dose of normal birth control pills and it works by preventing ovulation or fertilization. I just read in an article about the pending FDA approval for over-the-counter use that it prevents pregnancy 89% of the time. It's not meant to be used regularly.

(The so-called abortion pill, RU-486, is a completely different drug which acts in a completely different way, i.e. to terminate a pregnancy after conception and implantation.)

Answer 2

It is used within 3 days of the time u have sex in order to prevent pregnancy. Many people say it works. It's not safe to use all the time. It's only to be used if u were raped or something.

Answer 3

It is basiclly an abortion pill, it sheds the lining of the uterous just in case an egg has attached itself, it will basiclly be wiped out and its not just 1 pill. It makes you sick, and you get your peroid but its like 10 times worse. It should be illegal.

Answer 4

its a pill u take the morning after u have unprotected sex and u think u might have cncieved that night, it stops the consieving process

Answer 5

it's a pill you take within 72 hours of having sex if you think you could of gotten pregnant. Then it will stop pregnancy from occuring

Answer 6

Although lots of people talk about ‘the morning-after Pill’ this term is actually very misleading.

Why? Because in fact, you don’t have to take this pill on ‘the morning after’ having sex. In reality, it is fairly effective for up to 72 hours (three days).

However, the earlier you take it the better; it works best if taken within 24 hours of unprotected sex.

You’ll probably find that any chemist, nurse or doctor to whom you talk will call it ‘The post-coital Pill’ - or ‘PCP'. Other professionals call it ‘the emergency contraceptive’ or ‘EC'.

The one which is currently (2005) used in the UK is called ‘Levonelle’ or ‘Levonelle-2.’ It contains a female-type hormone called ‘levonorgestrel’ - which is one of the ingredients of several types of contraceptive Pill.

What does it do?

It stops you from becoming pregnant – at least, in the vast majority of cases. It’s not 100 per cent effective, but the failure rate is quite low – probably about 10 per cent, and rather better than that if you take it as early as possible.

The PCP is believed to work principally by preventing your ovaries from releasing an egg, and by affecting the womb lining, so that a fertilised egg couldn’t ‘embed’ itself there.

In Britain and many other western countries, it is not legally regarded as an abortion-causing drug, but as a contraceptive.

Who is it useful for?

It’s now very widely used by women (especially young women) who have had unprotected sex. And in particular, it has proved of value to:


rape victims – who should insist that they are given it (unfortunately, in Britain the doctors who examine raped women have sometimes been rather slow to prescribe it).


couples who have had a condom break.


women who have been lured into having sex while under the influence of drink or drugs.


Is it dangerous to use?

Not at all. If anybody tells you that it has ‘lots of side-effects’ or ‘makes you dreadfully sick,’ don’t believe them.

There was an older form of PCP, used back in the 1990s, which did often cause nausea – but today’s PCP causes very little trouble at all.

You might feel a little bit sick after taking it, but only about 1 woman in every 60 actually throws up. (And if that happens, you simply ask the doctor for another supply.)

Uncommon side-effects (which personally I’ve hardly ever seen) include:


headache


tummy ache


breast tenderness


vaginal ‘spotting’ of blood


dizziness.


More details on the package leaflet.

Is there anyone who shouldn’t take the PCP?

There are a few categories of women who shouldn’t take the post-coital pill. They include:


people with severe liver disease.


people with a very rare condition called porphyria.


But for nearly everyone, the PCP is fine, and most unlikely to cause any significant problems.

However, please note that if you are taking the popular herb St John’s wort it reduces the effectiveness of the PCP – so the doctor may want to prescribe a larger dose.

How do I get it?

The important thing to realise is that you must move fast.

In the early days of the PCP, some health professionals seemed to be incredibly good at putting all sorts of obstacles in the way of women who wanted to take it – like giving them an appointment for five days’ time!

That’s very uncommon now, and most general practices (not all) will see you on the day you request the PCP – but you really must make clear to the receptionist that the need is urgent.

If there is some difficulty in getting to see a helpful GP (for instance, if her surgery is closed), then you can get the PCP from several other types of doctor:


medics at Family Planning Clinics (if you need help in finding one, ring the Family Planning Association on 020 7837 5432).


doctors at Youth Advisory Clinic or Brook Advisory Clinics for young people (details from the Brook on 08000 – 185023).


doctors at University/College Health Centres.


medical officers at genitourinary medicine (STD) clinics.


some private doctors – particularly at walk-in clinics in central London.


But… if you can’t get to see a doctor on the day after unprotected sex, then fortunately recent changes in the law make it possible for you to obtain the post-coital Pill from a chemist’s shop.

So I can get it at a chemist’s?

Yes, nowadays quite a lot of pharmacists (though not all) will supply it to you ‘over-the-counter,’ without a doctor’s prescription.

But they will make a charge for it, currently (2005) around £24. However, there are a few areas of the UK where special local arrangements have been made to provide it for free.

The pharmacist will certainly wish to counsel you first, and to make sure you understand about how to take the PCP, and what to do if it doesn’t work.

As I’ve said above, not all chemists are willing to do this work. For instance, in a town where I practise, two of the huge supermarket chains have pharmacies - one of which will provide the PCP, the other will not.

To avoid any possible embarrassment for yourself, I suggest you ring the pharmacist before going along, and ask him whether he provides the post-coital Pill.

How do I take it?

In Britain, the current type of PCP is called ‘Levonelle'.

You are given two tablets in a pack. Swallow them both together, right away. (This is now considered to be as good as the old method of taking them 12 hours apart.)

Because time is short, there’s a lot to be said for asking the pharmacist for a glass of water – and swallowing them, then and there, in the shop.

Note: it seems likely that in the UK in the very near future, the two tablets will be combined into just one.

Any other warnings?

Yes, three:


please note that your next period may come early – or late. But if it doesn’t arrive within a couple of days of the expected time, see a doctor.


the PCP does not protect you for the rest of your menstrual cycle; therefore, either abstain from sex or use a barrier method (like a condom).


the PCP is not good at protecting against ectopic pregnancies, although these are rare - so if by any chance you get lower tummy pain (or abnormal bleeding) in the few weeks after using it, see your doctor.


If the PCP didn’t work, and I went on and had a baby, could the tablet damage it?

We simply don’t know the answer to this question.

At present, no one has shown any increase in abnormalities among babies who have been exposed to the PCP. But past experience does show that other hormones taken in early pregnancy have harmed children.

Is there any other kind of ‘post-sex contraception’ - like a coil?

Yes, it is possible to have a coil fitted after unprotected sex - though this is nowhere near as common.

The big advantage of the ‘post-coital coil’ is that you can have it put in as late as five days after having sex (though preferably earlier).

But … only a minority of UK doctors have been trained in the slightly tricky business of fitting coils. So it could be quite difficult to find someone who could fit this device. If in doubt, try a Family Planning Clinic or a Brook Advisory Centre.

Answer 7

It don't work!!

Answer 8

My wife says aspirin.

Answer 9

it's an abortion pill