The portal specialized in medicine and health Mayo Cliniccalls the morning-after pill an “emergency method of contraception to prevent pregnancy” after a woman has had unprotected sex or when regular contraception has failed.
This pill is meant to be a backup contraceptive It should only be used in cases of extreme emergency.since its regular use can generate hormonal alterations in the cycle of women.
The over-the-counter drug consists of levonorgestrel or ulipristal acetate, two compounds that prevent or delay the release of the egg from the woman’s ovariesavoiding fertilization.
It should be noted that this emergency method is not abortifacient, therefore it does not terminate an already implanted pregnancy e have some pregnancy risks and strong side effects depending on each woman’s body.
According to the experts of Profamilia and DoctorAki, the emergency pill works up to five days after unprotected sexreducing the chances of pregnancy by 85%.
How do you take the morning after pill?
There are several types of emergency pills: the Plan B One step of a single dose, the Next Choice which is 2 doses and Ella which also has a single dose. In both cases, it is advisable to read the instructions on the packaging.
Ideally, you should take this pill as soon as possible after unprotected intercourse or method failure, such as the faster you act, the greater its effectiveness.
What side effects does the emergency pill have?
Although most of the side effects caused by this drug are mild such as: headache, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, breast tenderness and irregular bleeding, if taken very frequently it can cause alterations of the hormonal cycle.
According to the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS), frequent use of the morning-after pill is not recommended because it does there is a risk that its percentage of effectiveness will decreasewhich exceeds 90% if consumed during the first 24 hours after sexual activity.
