Emergency Contraceptives
Hormonal Method
Emergency contraceptives are hormone-based pills that are used in the event of accidental unprotected sex.
DETAILS
The emergency pill, or “morning after pill”, can protect you from pregnancy if you have had unprotected sex or if the contraception method you have used fails, such as condom splitting.
Emergency contraceptive pills contain hormones which work by blocking and preventing the release of eggs from the ovaries (ovulation). They do not work if you are already pregnant.
The sooner you take emergency contraception after unprotected sex, the better it works. Depending on the type of pill, it can be taken up to 3 to 5 days after unprotected sex, but your healthcare provider will advise you.
HOW TO
You need to take the emergency pill as soon as possible after unprotected sex as it becomes less effective the longer you wait. After using it, use another form of contraception to protect you from an unplanned pregnancy.
Emergency contraception should not be used as your regular form of contraception. Speak to your healthcare provider if you are unsure about which contraceptive method is best for you.
PROS
- Can help prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex
- Is very effective in preventing pregnancy if taken within 12 hours after unprotected sex
- Do not cause any long-term side effects
- It will not affect your ability to get pregnant in the future
CONS
- It must be taken as soon as possible after unprotected sex to be most effective
- It does not protect you from sexually transmitted diseases
- Some women may experience side effects
SIDE EFFECTS
In the first few days after taking the emergency contraceptive pill, you may experience:
Slight irregular bleeding for 1–2 days
Nausea and vomiting
Stomach pain
Tiredness
Headaches
Tender breasts
Dizziness
Your monthly period may start earlier or later than expected.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
The emergency pill, or “morning after pill”, can protect you from pregnancy if you have unprotected sex or if the contraception method fails, such as condom splitting.
No. Emergency contraceptives (morning after pill) do not work if a woman is already pregnant. When taken before a woman has ovulated, emergency pills prevent the release of an egg from the ovary or delay its release by 5 to 7 days. By then, any sperm in the woman’s reproductive tract will have died, since sperm can survive there for only about 6 days.
Emergency contraception (morning after pill) is most effective when taken within 12-24 hours after unprotected sex. Efficacy changes over time: while it’s 95% effective within the first 24 hours after unprotected sex, that number drops to 58% when the pill is taken within 49-72 hours. For the best chance for it to work, you should take the emergency pill as soon as possible.
Women who take ECPs should understand that they could become pregnant the next time they have sex unless they begin to use another method of contraception at once. Because ECPs delay ovulation in some women, they may be most fertile soon after taking ECPs. If she wants ongoing protection from pregnancy, she must start using another contraceptive method at once.
Yes, you can use the emergency pill if something has gone wrong with your usual form of contraception, for example, a forgotten pill (only if the intake is more than 48 hours ago) or a split condom.
Repeated administration within a menstrual cycle is not advisable because of the possibility of disturbance of the cycle and a very high hormone dose. The emergency pill (morning after pill) should not be relied on as a regular form of contraception, and it is not as effective as other forms of hormonal contraception specifically made for regular use – it is only intended as a backup.
Contraception Methods
CONTRACEPTIVE IMPLANT
CONTRACEPTIVE IMPLANT
CONTRACEPTIVE INJECTION
CONTRACEPTIVE INJECTION
CONTRACEPTIVE PATCH
CONTRACEPTIVE PATCH
CONTRACEPTIVE RING
CONTRACEPTIVE RING
DIAPHRAGM
DIAPHRAGM
FEMALE CONDOM
FEMALE CONDOM
FERTILITY AWARENESS
FERTILITY AWARENESS
INTRAUTERINE DEVICE
INTRAUTERINE DEVICE
INTRAUTERINE SYSTEM-IUS
INTRAUTERINE SYSTEM-IUS
MALE CONDOM
MALE CONDOM
PULL-OUT METHOD
PULL-OUT METHOD
SPERMICIDES
SPERMICIDES
SPONGE
SPONGE
STERILISATION
STERILISATION
THE PILL
THE PILL
join the VIYA community
Be a Part of the Global Change for Sexual Health and Wellness
Together, we can make a difference by normalising the conversation around sexual health and pleasure. Join VIYA’s global mission to shape a world where every woman’s pleasure, wellness and health are prioritized.
