Emergency contraception, like other kinds of birth control, prevents you from becoming pregnant. The only distinction is that it is taken after intercourse.
But do they have any long term side effects? Let’s take a look together at whether this statement is true or not.
For more on emergency birth control, read ‘What Are Emergency Contraceptive Pills?’
This article is part of our comprehensive write up on Contraceptive Pills.
Effects of prolonged use of emergency contraceptive pills
Although emergency contraceptive pills are intended for single-use, there are no known health hazards associated with using them more than once within the same menstrual cycle. There is no risk of overdosing with these pills, and there are no major pharmacological interactions or contraindications.
Minor adverse effects, such as menstrual abnormalities and nausea, are possible, but usually only for a few days. These side effects are not harmful to the body, and each woman must decide for herself whether or not they are acceptable to her.
On the other hand, because a person would be exposed to higher amounts of hormones than they would get using regular combination hormonal birth control or progestin-only birth control, The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) does not endorse emergency contraception tablets as a long-term contraceptive alternative.
Regular repeated usage may result in more frequent episodes of adverse effects and menstrual irregularities.
Additionally, using an emergency contraceptive tablet will cause ovulation to be delayed or stopped for a few days. As a result, your current cycle may be altered, and it may be a few days shorter, or longer than usual.
How many times can you take the morning-after pill in a month?
Medical professionals recommend not taking the morning after pill more than twice in a single month and the second dose within the same period cycle.
However, using the morning-after pill as your primary form of birth control is not a smart choice because of the following reasons:
- When you use the morning-after pill often, your periods may become erratic and difficult to anticipate.
- Morning-after pill side effects, such as bleeding between periods or nausea, are transient, unavoidable, and they can be inconvenient.
- Taking the morning-after pill frequently is more costly and inconvenient than using a conventional birth control technique. For example, in Singapore, the morning-after pill can range in price from $40 to $50 per pill, which is more than what you pay for a month’s supply of contraceptive pills.
Morning after pill long-term side effects fertility
The morning-after pill works by delaying or inhibiting ovulation, which is the release of a mature egg by the ovaries. However, it only influences ovulation for a single cycle and thus, does not affect future fertility.
Moreover, morning-after pills usually include levonorgestrel, a kind of progestin hormone used in birth control tablets that slow or stop an egg from being released. It may also thicken vaginal fluid, preventing sperm from reaching an egg.
Contraceptive usage, regardless of length of use, does not affect future fertility, according to a comprehensive study published in 2018. Therefore, taking this pill more than once will not affect your future fertility.
What happens if you take the morning after pill if you are already pregnant?
The morning after pills does not end a pre-existing pregnancy. Instead, it obviates the need for conception in the first place.
An embryo will have been implanted in the uterus walls by the time pregnancy can be verified with a positive result on a home pregnancy test. So, a morning-after pill will have no impact on it.
Will the morning after pill work if I have already ovulated?
There are 2 types of morning after pills – Ella (Ullipristal) and Postinor (Levonorgestrel). Ella is non hormonal and has 2 functions, delaying ovulation and preventing the thickening of the womb lining, preventing a fertilised egg from implanting that can lead to a pregnancy.
If you have already ovulated, then only the second function of the emergency contraception will kick in.
However, the second type of morning after pill mainly works on the second function to delay ovulation, and may interfere with the transport of the sperm to the egg. As such, the limitations of Postinor is greater than Ella.
Signs that Plan B didn’t work
There are times when they do fail to prevent pregnancy. The main sign that points to Plan B not working is that you do not get your period at your next expected menstruation cycle.
Reasons emergency contraceptive pills didn’t work:
Here are some reasons as to why the contraceptive pill didn’t work for you:
- Your ovulation has started
It’s all in the timing when it comes to emergency birth control. It’s best to take the tablet as soon as possible. If you wait too long, you may miss the 72 hour window when the pill is most beneficial. Your emergency contraceptive pill will not work if you have sex around the time you ovulate or just after you ovulate.
- Other medications that you’re taking does not go well with the morning after pill
Both drugs and natural medicines can reduce the effectiveness of emergency birth control tablets. Therefore, it will be wiser to double-check the emergency contraception package information before purchasing them.
- You threw up after taking the pill and did not retake it
If you threw up the pill after taking it, the possibility of it not working is high as there wasn’t enough time for the pill to actually do its part in preventing pregnancy.
Can the morning-after pill cause permanent damage?
Taking the morning-after pill too frequently poses no permanent risk. However, it’s possible it won’t work, and you’ll wind up pregnant. You may opt for other contraception like implants as they are more effective than emergency contraceptive pills.
The effectiveness of morning-after pills is determined by the stage of a woman’s cycle. As a result, more effective types of birth control are recommended if you genuinely want to avoid pregnancy.
Where to buy emergency contraceptive pills in Singapore?
Emergency contraceptive pills require a sign-off from medical professionals in Singapore – and Ova has a team of them at your service and discretion. They’ll help choose the most suitable morning-after treatment for you.
For more information, read ‘Where Can I Buy Cheap Emergency Contraceptive Pills – Options’
Alternatives to emergency contraceptive pills
Here are some other options you can try out besides emergency contraceptive pills:
- Birth control pills
- Vaginal ring
- Intrauterine Device (IUD)
- Condoms
Conclusion
it’s better to be safe than sorry. Taking these pills can help you and it does not cause you any long term risks. Nevertheless, you can always consult a medical professional before consuming any pills.