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/