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What Is The Morning After Pill
A form of emergency contraception, the morning after pill can be used to prevent pregnancy if you have had unprotected sex or if you think your contraception has not worked. The morning after pill contains a progesterone hormone, which either stops ovulation, fertilisation or implantation of an already fertilised egg. Emergency contraception prevents pregnancy completely and is not an abortion.
How Effective Is The Morning After Pill
The morning after pill will prevent:
Up to 95% of pregnancies if taken within 24 hours
Up to 85% of pregnancies if taken between 25-48 hours
Up to 58% of pregnancies if taken between 49-72 hours
To work the morning after pill must be taken within three days of unprotected sex.
The morning after pill will not work if you:
Take the pills more than 72 hours after unprotected sex
Don't follow guidelines on how to take them
Vomit within three hours of taking the pill
Have unprotected sex after taking them
The morning after pill does not protect you against sexually transmitted infections.
Does The Morning After Pill Have Side Effects?
The morning after pill does not have any serious side effects.
Some women may feel dizzy or tired.
Your may get headaches, breast tenderness, diarrhoea or lower abdominal (tummy) pain.
Any symptoms you experience should get better within a few days.
Your next period may be disrupted - if you have severe lower abdominal pain, please see a doctor.
If you vomit within three hours of taking the pill, please come back and see us - you may need to take more.