How often can the morning after pill be taken?

Question

Since it is being sold over the counter, I was wondering, because it just seems to me that if it can be taken all time, young girls will use that instead of using condoms or other contraceptives.

Answer 1

The morning after pill can only be taken within the first 48 hours of having unprotected sex...and the longer you wait within that time period, the less chance there is that it will actually work.
As far as taking it "all the time"...I would not recommend that...the morning after pill can cause extreme nausea and other uncomfortable symptoms....also, the morning after pill cannot in any way shape or form prevent or reduce the risk of STD's. There is no morning after pill for getting rid of the chance of HIV or any other STD...so use a condom EVERY TIME.

Answer 2

Well, you're definitely not supposed to be used as regular birth control. The morning after pill has a much higher failure rate than condoms or the pill. Where I am from its 30 bucks a pop, so condoms and regular birth control makes much more sense. In Illinois, you need a prescription if you are under 18. Also, the morning after pill can do some weird stuff to your body, so i think most girls would opt out of taking it as regular birth control. I took the morning after pill once, a month ago and it made me spot like crazy. I will use it again if necessary but using it for regular birth control doesn't make much sense.

Answer 3

Hmm... it's probably safer and cheaper to use the pill instead of rushing out and buying the morning after pill. And the morning after pill doesn't prevent STDs... it should be the last resort, if anything.

Answer 4

I think it was a bad idea to make this available OTC. I do think that it will be over-used as a replacement for condoms especially. STDs will probably increase.

Answer 5

You do have a point as we have one single mother who is a co-worker that seems to almost do just what you pointed out.