What to expect when you take the morning after pill

Research published in 2018 revealed that of 46% of 17- to 35-year-olds who had unprotected sex in the last year, just 27% had used emergency contraception. This low uptake is down to various factors, but stigma about being judged was a key issue in the survey, with a third of women surveyed (31%) stating they would feel embarrassed to ask for the morning after pill.

The research, commissioned by HRA, manufacturers of morning after pill ellaOne, comes in the wake of debate over cost and access. In recent years, due to contentious legislation, women in Britain have had to pay up to five times more at pharmacies than their European counterparts for the morning after pill, although it is now available for from around £13, depending on the brand.

Emergency contraception is free from some sexual health clinics and community contraception outlets, and on NHS prescription from most GPs and NHS walk-in centres. Practitioners at these clinics are used to prescribing emergency contraception so there's no need to feel embarrassed about making a responsible decision after unprotected sex.

Emergency contraception

Three forms of emergency contraception are currently available in the UK: the intrauterine contraceptive device (copper coil or IUCD), and two types of morning after pill - ellaOne (ulipristal acetate) and the traditional morning after pill commonly known as Levonelle (also available under other brand names, but with the same active ingredient, levonorgestrel). Levonelle can be taken up to three days (72 hours) after unprotected sex and is 95% effective if taken in the first 24 hours, but this drops to 85% on the second day and 58% at 72 hours.

ellaOne has been shown to prevent 98% of pregnancies if taken within five days of unprotected sex (a research paper in The Lancet suggests).

Crucially though, both pills are only effective if taken before ovulation has occurred, as they work by delaying or preventing egg release from the ovaries. Ovulation will usually occur about 14 days before your period starts, but this can vary depending on the length of your cycle, your general health and other factors.

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Common side-effects and how to prevent them

According to Karin O'Sullivan, clinical lead at sexual health charity FPA, only about 10% of users report having side-effects after using emergency contraceptive pills:

"Most women do not have any, though some women may experience headaches, may feel sick and, in a very small number, may vomit.”

(If you vomit within two hours of taking the morning after pill, consult a doctor as if the first pill was not fully absorbed you may need to take a second dose, and take anti-sickness medication in combination).

"Making sure you've eaten before taking the emergency contraceptive pill can reduce the possibility of feeling sick," adds O'Sullivan. "Most side-effects will go away within a few days, and there are no serious long-term effects from taking the morning after pill. Side-effects are likely to be the same regardless of which brand of pill you take."

Some women may also experience temporary breast tenderness and dizziness.

Contra-indications

Some common medications, such as barbiturates and St John's wort, may impact upon the effectiveness of the morning after pill, and treatments for epilepsy and heartburn may also reduce its effectiveness.

If you're over 11 stone in weight,research indicates that the progestogen morning after pill in particular won't be as effective in preventing pregnancy as it is for women who maintain a lower, stable weight.

ellaOne (ulipristal) is not recommended if you're breastfeeding and (if you take the drug without realising you're pregnant) the effects on a developing baby are unknown.

Always consult your pharmacist about contra-indications before taking the morning after pill.

The morning after pill and your period

For some women, their next period may be heavier and more painful than usual.

"Taking the emergency contraceptive pill can alter your next period," says O’Sullivan. "It may be on time, or a few days earlier or later than usual - this varies for everyone. If you haven't had a period more than a week after it's expected, it is shorter or lighter than usual, or you are concerned that emergency contraception may have failed, take a pregnancy test and consult a doctor."

Long-term health risks

Health risks associated with emergency contraception are unlikely and rare, reassures O'Sullivan.

"You can take the same type of emergency pill more than once in any menstrual cycle if required, but it may not be possible to take a different type of pill in the same cycle. There are no long-term risks to your health or fertility if you use the emergency contraceptive pill more than once."

The morning after pill was not developed to be taken regularly though, but as an emergency option if your usual form of contraception fails (eg, condoms). It won't prevent pregnancy from any further unprotected sex you may have during the remainder of your menstrual cycle (unless you take further doses) and it will not protect you from sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

"After unprotected sex, it may be advisable to get a sexual health check-up for any STIs," advises O'Sullivan. "This would usually need to be at least two weeks after unprotected sex to be accurate, and four weeks for blood tests, but please ask for advice when you receive emergency contraception, especially if you have any symptoms, as you may need to be checked out sooner."

If you're seeking emergency contraception due to an abusive partner, or if you've been a victim of sexual assault, the practitioner giving you the pill should be able to direct you to local services, including sexual assault referral centres and support groups that can help. Alternatively, Rape Crisis or Refuge can provide support.

An alternative option: the copper coil

The most effective form of emergency contraception is the copper coil (the IUCD), which can be used up to five days (120 hours) after unprotected sex, or within five days of the earliest time you could have released an egg.

The IUCD is a small, T-shaped plastic and copper device that's inserted into your uterus (via the vagina) by a doctor or nurse. It releases copper which prevents the egg implanting in your uterus or being fertilised, so, unlike the morning after pill, it works even after you have ovulated.

"You can also choose to have the IUCD left in as an ongoing method of contraception," says O'Sullivan. "The emergency IUCD is more effective at preventing pregnancy than emergency contraceptive pills, so should always be offered and considered as the first choice."