Morning after pill: what is it, advantages and disadvantages

The morning after pill is a useful method to avoid an unwanted pregnancy. It is an effective method as long as important recommendations on its use are followed. However, it should not be used routinely as a substitute for contraception.

The morning after pill, also known as morning after pill, has become popular in recent years. It has many advantages, although it is also necessary to observe and know its disadvantages so as not to incur possible damage to health.

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Everything there is to know about the morning after pill

The morning after pill is an emergency method of contraception. Its name is due to the fact that it must be ingested a maximum of 72 hours after having had unprotected privacy. Although the effectiveness increases if it is taken the day after immediately.

It is important to remember that it is not a method that prevents the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. It is an over-the-counter drug, even in some places it is provided free of charge.

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What is the morning after pill?

The morning-after pill is an oral tablet. Its function is to prevent fertilization. It may be by preventing the ovum from leaving the ovary, intervening in the cervical mucus, making it thicker to prevent the passage of sperm or by altering the endometrium so that the fertilized egg does not implant.

Due to its function, it is not an abortive method, but a contraceptive. For this reason, it must be used in full compliance with the instructions and indications. This is not only to make your result more efficient, but to avoid causing any adverse reactions that can be prevented.

The active compound in the morning after pills that are commercially available are ulipristal acetate or levonorgestrel. In the case of levonorgestrel, it is a compound with progesterone. Progesterone works by altering the functions in the uterus to prevent fertilization.

On the other hand, ulipristal acetate is not hormonal. In this case, the ulipristal acetate pill is actually a selective progesterone receptor modulator. It is because of this function that it is possible to effectively inhibit contraception even for up to five days. It is the most widely marketed throughout Europe.

In what cases is it recommended?

The morning after pill is used to prevent an unwanted pregnancy. If due to various circumstances an intimate relationship has been maintained without protection, then the post-day pill should be taken maximum 72 hours later. Even if there is no suspicion of pregnancy due to not being in the fertile period, it is best not to hesitate or wait more days.

If the condom has broken or is suspected, or if it was misplaced, it is also a good idea to take the pill. If you have forgotten to take the contraceptive pill, then it is best to use this method. Although there is no suspicion of pregnancy as such, you can also resort to the post-day pill, as when in doubt, the best thing to do is always prevent, and the morning after pill is effective for this situation.

However, this pill should not be used as a regular method of contraception or intended to replace the current one. Although it is a drug with very few adverse reactions or contraindications, its use should not be abused. This recommendation is due to the fact that prolonged or inappropriate use can cause hormonal alterations.

Since it is not a prevention method, it should not be consumed before being intimate. The morning after pill does not work this way, so it will not do any good to do so. For this reason, in addition to not being an abortive method, it is not a preventive method that can be administered before maintaining privacy.

How should it be taken?

The morning-after pill should always be taken after being intimate, and when the usual contraceptive methods have failed. If an unwanted conception is suspected, a single pill should be taken for the next 72 hours. The sooner it is ingested, the more effective it is guaranteed. In fact, the health recommendation is that the pill be ingested within the first 24 hours after intercourse.

So, after having had intimate relationships, you can buy the pill and ingest it. It is not necessary to take more than two doses. A single intake is enough to guarantee up to 99% effectiveness, that there is no fertilization. Some pills, such as ulipristal acetate, can be taken up to 5 days later. However, the 72 hour recommendation remains the same.

The effectiveness of the morning-after pill taken in the first 24 hours increases up to 99%. Do not take it twice in the same cycle, doing so can cause hormonal alterations. It must be taken in a very punctual way.

If hormonal contraceptives are being taken, then prevention must be reinforced, as the morning-after pill may decrease its effect. For this reason, it is convenient to take measures in the following intimate relationships, to avoid the need to ingest the pill again and reduce its effectiveness.

Advantage

Without a doubt, the great advantage of the morning after pill is its effectiveness. Its use in a suitable and punctual way, records an efficiency of up to 99%, as we have already commented. It is easy to acquire, and even in some countries and areas it is provided free of charge without having to meet any requirements, even not even the age of majority.

It is available over the counter and can be purchased at any pharmacy. Its intake does not require anything more than a little water. It has very few contraindications and reported side effects. Therefore, it is considered safe and effective. It can be ingested during breastfeeding and there is no harm to either the mother or the baby.

Disadvantages

The morning after pill has several disadvantages as well. The main one is that in women with a body mass index greater than 30 it is very likely that it will not work. In addition, it is common for it to cause an imbalance in the menstrual cycle, so there may be delays or even early in the next cycle.

It is not a method that can be used routinely, so it is not recommended to use more than two times in a single cycle. In the case of the levonorgestrel pill, its effectiveness is reduced by up to 54% if it is used three days after intimate relations. In case of asthma or liver failure, it shouldn't be used either.

Bibliographic references

• Black, K. I., Mercer, C. H., Johnson, A. M. & Wellings, K. (2006). Sociodemographic and sexual health profile of users of emergency hormonal contraception: data from a British probability sample survey. Contraception.
• Gemzell-Danielsso, Kristina; Sharon T Cameron. (2011). Ulipristal acetate (ellaOne®) for emergency contraception: review of the clinical evidence. Future Science.
• Ho, Pak Chung, et al. (2002). Mifepristone: Contraceptive and Non-Contraceptive Uses. Current Opinions in Obstetrics Gynecology.
• World Health Organization, WHO. (1998). Emergency Contraception: a guide for service delivery. WHO / FRH7FPP798.19, Geneva.