Oral contraceptive pills, also known as birth control pills or combined pills, are used by women to protect themselves from getting pregnant.
Then, comes the common question every woman has – ‘What if I forget to take a pill and have unprotected sexual intercourse?’
The best alternative ‘backup’ to be safe is to take an emergency contraceptive pill (ECP) which is also known as the morning-after pill.
This article is part of our comprehensive write up on Contraceptive Pills.
How long does a woman have to to take emergency contraceptive pills after unprotected sex?
Emergency contraceptive pills must be taken orally within 72 to 120 hours after unprotected sexual intercourse, in order for it to help prevent pregnancy. There are 2 main categories for ECP
ECPs such as postinor (Levonorgestrel), contain the hormone progesterone which helps by either stopping or delaying the release of an egg from your ovaries, delaying ovulation. (the process where ovaries release an egg) This process prevents sperm from fertilizing the egg which will lead to conception.
The sooner you take it, the higher the efficiency rate, as it will take time for the pill to release the hormones to help stop ovulation.
The other available ECP is Ella (Ulipristal), which does not have hormones and works by delaying ovulation and also by preventing the thickening of the womb lining, thereby preventing the egg from implanting.
Should you take contraceptive pills before or after sex?
There are two types of contraceptive pills, which are combination pills and progestin only pills. These pills are taken daily and consistently as a birth control method to prevent pregnancy.
Emergency contraceptive pills, on the other hand, should not be used as a regular contraceptive method. They are taken after having unprotected sex as a protective measure if you forgot to take your regular contraceptive pills or if your usual birth control method failed (ie. the condom broke during sex)
If you miss a combination pill you must then take two pills the next day and then continue taking a pill a day again. When a pill is missed and even after taking a double dosage the next day, you must use extra protection during intercourse such as a condom or by taking ECPs the next morning to avoid pregnancy. The timeframe to take ECP is within 72 hours for Postinor and within 120 hours for Ella.
For more of how and when you should take contraceptive pills, read ‘How To Take Contraceptive Pills First Time?’
Is one pill enough to stop pregnancy?
If taken within the right time frame without missing any doses, then yes, one pill is enough to stop pregnancy.
Contraceptive pills, when taken accurately without a miss, have a 99% efficiency success rate of protection against pregnancy. With typical use, the effectiveness falls to 91%.
Whereas, emergency contraceptive pills have a rate of 75% to 80% in aiding to stop a pregnancy. Therefore, they are not recommended for daily usage.
Can a girl get pregnant even after taking the pill?
Even though birth control pills have a 99% success rate to prevent pregnancy with perfect use, some women do fall pregnant even though they are on the pill.
Here are some factors that contribute towards this :
- Ovulation – You were late in taking the pill and ovulating at the time of intercourse when the sperm managed to fertilize the egg.
- Medication – Taking a combination of certain medicines together with your birth control pills may also reduce the pills effectiveness.
- Missed doses – Many women tend to forget to take their pill from time to time.
What happens if I get pregnant while I am using the emergency contraceptive pill?
ECPs do not end a pregnancy, nor does it harm the development of a fetus. Therefore, if you had unprotexted sex and took the morning after pill not knowing you were already pregnant, fret not, because it is completely safe.
Where can I get contraceptive pills in Singapore?
Many people are either busy, afraid or too shy to walk into a clinic to get contraceptive pills. Put your worries at ease, as in Singapore you can get them sent straight to your home with us at Ova.
Contact us and speak to one of our qualified health professionals and have your treatment delivered directly to your address within 4 hours, hassle free.
For more details on where to buy contraceptive pills, read ‘Where Can I Buy Cheap Emergency Contraceptive Pills – Options’
Conclusion
Tons of women choose birth control pills, as their preferred contraceptive method, because they are easily obtained and fuss free. The main issue most of us face in our daily busy schedule is when we forget to take the pill.
The best way to avoid this from happening is to set an alarm daily as a reminder. Sometimes we overlook and miss it even with a reminder set. The next best option to protect yourself is to take an emergency contraceptive pill the day after, or as soon as possible.
Always choose to securely protect yourself if you are not ready to conceive. Whenever in doubt, contact us and our team of professionals will gladly assist you.