Sexual Responsibility: Morning After Pill

The Morning-After Pill

If you have unprotected sexual intercourse during or close to ovulation, you may want to consider taking the "morning-after" pill, a medication with the hormonal equivalent of about four birth control pills. Women who have been advised against using birth control pills should not use the morning-after pill.

The "morning-after" pill does not prevent the fertilization of an egg by a sperm, but rather affects the lining of the uterus so that a fertilized egg can't implant itself. It basically brings on menstruation.

Taking the pills within three days of having unprotected intercourse or experiencing a birth control mishap, then again 12 hours later is considered to be 99 percent effective in preventing pregnancy.

Vaginal bleeding, cramps, breast tenderness, nausea and headache usually occur within a week after taking the pills but are not sure signs of effectiveness. Normal menstruation should return within 4-6 weeks; if not get a pregnancy test.

Before you take the morning-after pill, it is important to evaluate what you would do if a pregnancy did occur even after taking the pills, since the hormones in the morning after treatment can cause problems in the pregnancy.

The long range health effects of the morning-after pill have not been conclusively studied. It is possible that frequent use could have harmful effects. It should only be used as an emergency backup option for preventing a likely pregnancy.

It is important to note that the morning-after pill is not the same as RU 486.