Morning After Pill

The "Morning After Pill" or Plan B

The Morning After Pill is usually taken to try to prevent pregnancy within the first 72 hours of sexual intercourse. It has a high concentration of a hormone called progesterone, which is found in many types of birth control pills.

How it works

The Morning After Pill can work in different ways depending on what part of your menstrual cycle you are in:

1. It may prevent ovulation. This means no egg is released from your ovary; therefore, there is nothing for sperm to fertilize.
2. It may alter the lining of your fallopian tubes making it more difficult for sperm to reach the egg for fertilization.
3. It may change the lining of your uterus making it harder for a FERTILIZED egg to implant.

Side Effects

The possible short-term side effects from taking the Morning After Pill are as follows:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Irregular periods
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Breast tenderness
• Cramping and abdominal pain which could mask the signs and symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy

An ectopic pregnancy is a possible life-threatening emergency in which a fertilized egg implants OUTSIDE of the uterus, most likely in the fallopian tubes. An ectopic pregnancy always requires medical care. The Morning After Pill WILL NOT end or terminate an ectopic pregnancy.¹

The signs/symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy are as follows:

• Severe pain centered on one side of the abdomen or pelvis
• Lightheadedness, dizziness, or blackout
• Abnormally low blood pressure
• Passage of tissue or blood from your vagina
• Bleeding may or may not be present⁴

IF YOU EXPERIENCE ANY OF THESE SYMPTOMS THREE TO FIVE WEEKS AFTER TAKING THE MORNING AFTER PILL SEE YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY TO RULE OUT AN ECTOPIC PREGNANCY.¹

Effectiveness

The effectiveness of emergency contraception pills varies by the kind of pill(s) you take. The progestin-only pills claim to effective by UP TO 88% if taken within 72 hours of intercourse.² The Plan B website states that once you are pregnant, Plan B will not terminate an existing pregnancy.³ If you use the Morning After Pill, however, after fertilization occurs but before implantation the high dose of hormones may irritate the lining of your uterus causing a possible inability of implantation. This will end the embryo's life, thus causing a very early abortion.¹

Also, please remember: THE MORNING AFTER PILL WILL NOT PROTECT YOU AGAINST SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES SUCH AS HIV, HERPES, GENITAL WARTS, CHLAMYDIA, GONORRHEA, TRICHOMONIASIS, ETC.³

What if you're not even pregnant?

A big problem with using the morning after pill is the fact that you are exposing yourself to a large dose of hormone without even knowing if you are pregnant. There is no way of knowing if you are pregnant within the 72 window of opportunity that the Morning After Pill is effective. You may want to ask yourself, "Why take such a risk if I'm not sure I'm even pregnant?" If you have more questions, please call your local Care Net Pregnancy Center.

¹Focus on the Family. (2009). The Morning After Pill [Brochure]. Dihle, VL: Author.

²Emergency Contraception: Effectiveness of emergency contraceptives. Retrieved August 25, 2011 from Office of Population Research & Association of Reproductive Health Professionals Web site: http://ec.princeton.edu/questions/eceffect.html

³Plan B One-Step^TM Consumer: What You Need To Know. Retrieved August 25, 2011 from Teva Women's Health, Inc. Web site: http://planbonestep.com/what-to-know-plan-b.aspx

⁴Ectopic Pregnancy. Retrieved August 30, 2011 from Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Web site: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/ectopic-pregnancy/DS00622/

Abortion Procedures

Abortion Education

It is good you are taking the time to do some research before you make your final decision because there are risks, just as there are with any other medical procedure, and you are wise to weigh them.

Are you pregnant?

This is always the first question to ask. It’s important to get verification of pregnancy from a reliable independent source like a pregnancy test or ultrasound.

Our center is here to help you confirm your pregnancy on a more personal basis, one-on-one, and to look at your particular situation and health factors.

Just for starters, here are some facts about the basic procedures you might be considering:

Methods of Abortion*

Methods used before fourteen weeks gestation from last menstrual period are:

Early Non-Surgical Abortion:

• A drug is given that stops the hormones needed for the baby to grow. This causes the placenta or attachment of the baby to the womb to separate, ending the pregnancy.
• A second drug is given by mouth or placed in the vagina causing the womb to contract and expel the baby and placenta.
• A return visit to the doctor is required for follow-up to make sure the abortion is complete.

Possible Complications:

• Incomplete abortion
• Allergic reaction to the medications
• Painful cramping
• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Fever
• Infection
• Heavy bleeding

 Vacuum Aspiration Abortion:

• A local anesthetic is applied or injected into or near the cervix (the opening to the womb) to prevent discomfort or pain.
• Conscious sedation and/or general anesthesia are also commonly used.
• The opening of the cervix is gradually stretched with a series of dilators. The thickest dilator is about the width of a fountain pen.
• A tube is inserted into the womb and is attached to a suction system to remove the baby, placenta, and membranes from the womb.

Possible Complications:

• Incomplete abortion
• Pelvic infection
• Heavy bleeding
• Torn cervix
• Perforated uterus

Dilation and Curettage Abortion:

• A local anesthetic is applied or injected into or near the cervix (the opening to the womb) to prevent discomfort or pain.
• Conscious sedation and/or general anesthesia are also commonly used.
• The opening of the cervix is gradually stretched with a series of dilators. The thickest dilator is about the width of a fountain pen.
• A spoon-like instrument (curette) is used to scrape the walls of the uterus to remove the baby, placenta, and membranes.
• A follow-up appointment should be made with the doctor.

Possible Complications:

• Incomplete abortion
• Pelvic infection
• Heavy bleeding
• Torn cervix
• Weakened cervix
• Perforated uterus

Methods used at fourteen weeks gestation and after:

Dilation and Evacuation (D&E) Abortion:

• Sponge-like pieces of absorbent material are placed into the cervix. This material becomes moist and slowly opens the cervix. It remains in place for several hours or overnight. A second or third application of the sponge material may be necessary.
• Following dilation of the cervix, medications may be given to ease pain and prevent infection.
• After a local or general anesthesia has been administered, the baby, placenta, and membranes are removed from the uterus with medical instruments such as forceps and suction curettage. Occasionally for removal, it may be necessary to dismember the baby.

Possible Complications:

• Heavy bleeding
• Cut or torn cervix
• Perforation of the wall of the uterus
• Pelvic infection
• Incomplete abortion
• Anesthesia-related complications
• Weakened cervix

The Medical Risks of Abortion

The risk of complications for the woman increases with each week of pregnancy.  Below are descriptions of possible complications.

Pelvic Infection (Sepsis):  Bacteria (germs) from the vagina may enter the cervix and womb and cause an infection.  Antibiotics are used to treat an infection.  In rare cases, a repeat suction, hospitalization or surgery may be needed.

Incomplete Abortion:  Fetal parts or parts of the placenta may not be completely emptied from the womb, requiring further medical procedures.  Incomplete abortion may result in infection and bleeding.

Cut or Torn Cervix:  The opening of the womb (cervix) may be torn while it is being stretched open to allow medical instruments to pass through and into the uterus.

Bleeding:  Some amount of bleeding is common following an abortion. Heavy bleeding is not common and may be treated by repeat suction, medication or rarely, surgery.  Ask the doctor to explain heavy bleeding and what to do if it occurs.

Perforation of the Wall of the Womb:  A medical instrument may go through the wall of the uterus.  Depending on the severity, perforation can lead to infection, heavy bleeding or both.
Surgery may be required to repair the uterine tissue, and in the most severe cases a hysterectomy may be required.

Anesthesia-Related Complications:  As with other surgical procedures, anesthesia increases the risk of complication.

The Emotional Side of Abortion

Each woman having an abortion may experience different emotions before and after the procedure.  Women often have both positive and negative feelings after having an abortion.  Some women say that these feelings go away quickly, while others say they last for a very long time.  These feelings may include emptiness and guilt as well as sadness.  A woman may question whether she made the right decision.  Some women may feel relief about their decision and that the procedure is over.  Other women may feel anger at having to make the choice.

Counseling or support before and after an abortion is very important.  Family help and support is very important, but the woman may need additional help if the feelings that appear after an abortion become more intense.  Talking with a professional counselor before having an abortion can help a woman better understand her decision and the feelings she may experience after the procedure.  If counseling is available to the woman, these feelings may be easier to handle.

Remember, it is a woman’s right to be fully informed by her doctor prior to any procedure.  A woman should be encouraged to ask questions.

Most people are surprised to learn these things and begin to feel a little like they are being cornered into a hard place and the decisions are not as easy as they had hoped. That is why we are here for you! You can explore all your options with a non-judgmental, caring person after having a professional grade pregnancy test to confirm your pregnancy. Our staff is trained to help you to discover the resources, support and information that are important to you.

*Georgia Department of Human Resources, D.o. (n.d.). Abortion: A Woman's Right to Know. Retrieved from http://health.state.ga.us/wrtk

Our Center offers peer counseling and accurate information about all pregnancy options. This center does not offer abortion services or abortion referrals.

This information is intended for general educational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional medical advice.

Your Options

Pregnant? Now What?

Your pregnancy may have been planned or could be a surprise. But no matter what, a new life has been created. You have choices and it is your choice to make. It is our hope that you will become educated in each of the three choices so that you can make a wise decision that you will not regret.

Here are your options to consider:

Deciding to Parent

Even if you feel that you do not have the skills to raise a child, everyone has to start somewhere. Choosing to parent is always an option to consider. If you decide to carry your baby to term and parent him or her, there is help available. You will need to enter into prenatal care as soon as possible to insure the health and well being of both you and your baby. What if you do not have the material items necessary to raise a child? If you would like, you can choose to sign up for our free program called "Earn While You Learn". Using this program you can earn a lot of the material items needed for you and your baby (such as clothing, diapers, formula, baby food, cribs, strollers, etc.) as well as some of the parenting skills needed to raise a child. Click here for more information on this program.

Adoption

If, for whatever reason, you feel that parenthood is not possible for you, another choice is to make an adoption plan. Adoption today can be open or closed, and that choice is yours. With open adoption, communication between birth mother and adoptive parents is open and the amount of contact is negotiated between birth mother and the adoptive family. With closed adoptions there is no contact between families after the papers are signed. You will need to decide what works best for you and your ability to move forward with your life.

For more information about the decision to adopt, please contact your local Care Net Pregnancy Center or visit www.adoption-share.com for more information about adoption.

Abortion

Abortion is the termination of a healthy pregnancy by drugs (RU-486) or surgical procedure. Both methods carry risk of complications, both physical and emotional. For more information on the various abortion procedures as well as the possible complications involved, please read more here.

Abortion is not just a simple procedure; it may have many side effects. Abortion has been associated with preterm birth, emotional and psychological impact and spiritual consequences. Please call us so that you can make an informed decision.

No one should pressure you into any decision with something as big as pregnancy. There is a lot to educate yourself on and we can help you every step of the way. Please continue your path to informing and equipping yourself by calling or coming to our center for the help and support we can provide.

Our Center offers peer counseling and accurate information about all pregnancy options. This center does not offer abortion services or abortion referrals.

This information is intended for general educational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional medical advice.

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