I Took the Morning After Pill 3 Weeks Ago and Had Ubprotected Sex Again Will It Still Work
Reviewed by our clinical team
Many people question 'how effective is the morning after pill?', but the answer largely depends on 1 affair: how soon after unprotected sexual practice the pill is taken. Across this, there can be some differences depending on the type you use. This commodity examines the two most widely used morning time later pills – Levonorgestrel (generic Levonelle) and ellaOne – too as the emergency coil, or IUD.
What is ellaOne?
EllaOne is the most effective morn after pill (although the emergency coil is the most effective form of emergency contraception). It contains ulipristal acetate, a chemical that prevents pregnancy.
How does ellaOne work?
Ulipristal acetate is the active ingredient in ellaOne. This ingredient is a chemic that prevents or delays your ovaries from releasing an egg (ovulating), therefore decreasing the chances of sperm coming into ontact with an egg and fertilising information technology.
EllaOne Effectiveness
EllaOne should be taken every bit soon equally possible after unprotected sex to maximise its effectiveness. Nevertheless, ellaOne has a longer window of utilise than Levonorgestrel. EllaOne has to exist taken within 5 days (120 hours) of unprotected sex activity – allowing 48 hours extra than Levonorgestrel.
EllaOne is taken as a single tablet. Whereas the effectiveness of Levonorgestrel starts to subtract after 12 hours, ellaOne is thought to remain upwards to 98% effective throughout the five 24-hour interval window. ellaOne is not recommended for apply more than than one time in a menstrual bicycle.
Things to consider
Potential side effects are very rare. The nearly likely are irregular bleeding, headache, nausea and stomach pain, but these side-effects are rarely severe. Don't accept ellaOne if yous believe you are already pregnant and bear in listen that ellaOne may interact with certain medicines. Consult the medical instructions within the packet or speak with your GP if you have major concerns.
If you vomit within three hours of taking ellaOne yous must take another tablet equally shortly equally possible. Recurrent vomiting probably means your trunk is rejecting the handling. You could try Levonorgestrel provided you are within 72 hours of sexual intercourse, although Levonorgestrel's decreasing effectiveness means the IUD is probably the better choice.
What is Levonorgestrel/Levonelle?
Levonorgestrel is the most commonly used morn after pill, although it is sometimes called its branded name Levonelle. Although less constructive than ellaOne, it has been around longer and costs less. Levonorgestrel is a synthetic hormone that prevents pregnancy.
How does Levonorgestrel work?
The active ingredient in Levonorgestrel or Levonelle is levonorgestrel. This a synthetic hormone which works to preclude pregnancy by stopping the ovaries from releasing an egg and besides stopping sperm fertilising an egg if information technology had already been released.
Levonorgestrel/Levonelle Effectiveness
Levonorgestrel is nigh effective when taken within 12 hours of unprotected sexual activity, although it tin can be effective for upward to 72 hours after sex. Y'all should bear in mind, however, that this effectiveness decreases over time.
Levonorgestrel is thought to preclude:
- up to 95% of pregnancies if taken within 24 hours
- upward to 85% if taken within 25-48 hours
- up to 58% if taken within 49-72 hours
For this reason, taking Levonorgestrel three days afterward unprotected sex may not exit you as well-protected equally you hoped.
Things to consider
Levonorgestrel comes as a tablet, taken once only. Yet, yous can have Levonorgestrel again during the same menstrual cycle if you require emergency contraception on another occasion. Levonorgestrel should non disrupt any contraception such as the combined pill. In contrast, ellaOne is not recommended o exist used more than than once in a menstual cycle. You should never take Levonorgestrel and ellaOne within the same menstrual wheel every bit each other.
Most women experience no side effects afterwards taking Levonorgestrel. Should side effects occur, the most common are irregular bleeding, headache, nausea and stomach pain. Certain medical weather make Levonorgestrel unsafe to have. If you social club through our site, one of our doctors will check that you lot are eligible beforehand.
If you're sick inside 3 hours taking Levonorgestrel, you lot volition need to take another tablet as soon every bit possible. If vomiting recurs and then your body has probably rejected the handling. You lot should seek another form of emergency contraception – mostly likely the IUD coil (see below).
The emergency IUD, or coil
The IUD is the most constructive form of emergency contraception. It's is a small T-shaped device made from plastic and copper that is inserted into the uterus to prevent pregnancy. The whorl stops the egg and sperm from surviving in the womb or fallopian tubes. It is commonly used equally a form of long-term contraception. Even so the gyre is also a very effective emergency contraception – indeed more so than either Levonorgestrel or ellaOne. You tin can get the coil fitted inside five days of unprotected sexual activity and it volition be 99.9% effective.
To have the coil fitted you must visit your GP or local sexual health clinic. In that location yous will take an internal examination to detect the size and position of your womb. The insertion procedure takes between xv to xx minutes. The whorl can be an constructive grade of contraception for 5 to x years, depending on the version used.
However, if you want to remove the coil the process can be washed at any time by a trained doctor or nurse. Once the ringlet is removed your fertility will return to normal.
Some women find the coil causes vaginal haemorrhage and hurting. Nigh, however, experience no discomfort. Periods tin be heavier although this tends to clear after a few months. The coil doesn't foreclose sexually transmitted infections so you volition still need to use a rubber during sex if you lot aren't certain that your partner is STI-free.
The gyre should not exist fitted if you have:
- an untreated pelvic infection or STI
- unexplained vaginal bleeding
- certain abnormalities of the cervix or womb
The medico or nurse fitting the whorl volition examine you beforehand to ensure the coil is appropriate for you. For more information, visit your GP or local sexual wellness clinic.
Does emergency contraception protect confronting STIs?
No, not at all. If you lot have had unprotected sex and are worried that y'all might accept an STI then y'all should visit your local sexual wellness clinic for testing. Alternatively, LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor provides communication, STI tests and a range of STI treatments.
Y'all should as well think that the forenoon after pill isn't a suitable alternative to regular contraception. Information technology is designed for i-off utilise. If you do not want to use long-term hormonal contraception, barrier methods such as condoms could be the respond. They are far cheaper than using emergency contraception regularly, and offer effective protection against sexually transmitted infections.
Can you get significant after taking the morning after pill?
ellaOne and Levonorgestrel are most effective at preventing pregnancy the sooner they are taken after unprotected sexual activity. A 2017 review information technology is estimated that 98-99% of women who take ellaOne later unprotected sexual practice will not become significant. Information technology is estimated that 97.four-99.iv% of women will non get meaning subsequently taking Levonorgestrel.
How effective is the morning after pill when ovulating?
Both types of morn after pill, Levonorgestrel and ellaOne are effective merely if taken before the release of an egg from the ovary (ovulation). Still, when compared with Levonorgestrel, ellaOne has been shown to go on beingness effective afterwards in the menstrual cycle.
How long does the morning after pill stay effective?
The morning time after pill is only effective subsequently unprotected sex. If you lot have unprotected sex at whatever fourth dimension subsequently taking Levonorgestrel or ellaOne, you tin become significant.
Neither form of morn later pill is intended to be used as a regular course of contraception. But you can utilize emergency contraception more than once in a menstrual cycle if you need to.
How do I know that the morning later pill has worked? When should I accept a pregnancy test?
If your menstruum is more 7 days late; if it is unusually low-cal or unusually heavy; or if yous experience symptoms such as intestinal (tummy) hurting, breast tenderness, vomiting or nausea, yous may exist pregnant.
Tin can you take the morning after pill twice in a week?
You lot tin can accept the morning after pill more than one time in a menstrual cycle, if you need to. However it is worth bearing in mind that the morning after pill shouldn't be used as a regular grade of contraception.
References
https://www.nhs.great britain/conditions/contraception/how-effective-emergency-contraception/
https://www.tht.org.uk/hiv-and-sexual-health/sexual-health/improving-your-sexual-health/contraception/emergency
https://111.wales.nhs.uk/Emergencycontraceptivepill/
https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/7308/smpc#PRODUCTINFO
Source: https://onlinedoctor.lloydspharmacy.com/uk/contraception-advice/how-effective-is-the-morning-after-pill
0 Response to "I Took the Morning After Pill 3 Weeks Ago and Had Ubprotected Sex Again Will It Still Work"
Post a Comment