An emergency contraceptive pill (ECP), also known as the morning after pill, is a pill taken within 72 to 120 hours after sexual intercourse to help delay ovulation, block fertilization and prevent pregnancy.
Levonorgestrel ECP – taken within 72 hours (Plan B One-Step, Postinor 2, EContra EZ, Aftera etc) and Ulipristal (Ella) ECP – taken within 120 hours are hormonal medications. You can easily get treatments from your health provider in Singapore.
Many women choose emergency contraceptive pills as a precautionary measure to avoid getting pregnant after having unprotected sex or when birth control fails. However, while these pills are very effective in preventing pregnancy when taken within the time frame, they may cause some side effects.
This article is part of our comprehensive writeup on Contraceptive Pills.
Common side effect of emergency contraceptive pills
Emergency contraceptive pills may not be suitable for everyone, so make sure that you are not allergic to any components of the pill before taking it.
There are a few common side effects that usually lasts for only a few days, such as:
- Giddiness.
- Headache.
- Fatigue.
- Swollen and tender breasts.
- Nausea.
- Vomiting (if you vomit right after taking an ECP, you may need to take another dosage).
- Spotting before periods.
- A heavier menstrual flow.
- Cramps and lower abdominal discomfort.
- Irregular bleeding patterns.
Long-term side effects of emergency contraceptive
As of now, there are no long-term side effects associated with taking emergency contraceptive pills.
However, medical professionals do not recommend using it as a daily contraceptive measure. This is because it is not as effective compared to contraceptive injections, birth control pills, IUDs (intrauterine device) and condoms.
Side effects of emergency contraceptive pills on periods
There are some common side effects on your menstrual cycle after taking emergency contraceptive pill, such as:
- Your period to be either a week earlier or a week later.
- A heavier or lighter period.
- Irregular spotting or bleeding.
- Cramping and abdominal discomfort.
- If you are taking ECPs very often, it can also cause an irregular period cycle.
Side effects of emergency contraceptive pills on pregnancy
Levonorgestrel prevents conception and reduces the chances of getting pregnant when taken within 72 hours after sexual intercourse, the earlier, the better. It does not, however, end a pregnancy if you have already conceived.
As of date the effects of Ulipristal are not known. Therefore, you should avoid using it if you are pregnant.
If you took the pill unknowlingly without realizing that you have already conceived, you can be rest assured that emergency contraceptive pills do not induce abortion, stop pregnancy or harm a fetus.
Side effects of emergency contraceptive pills on fertility
Emergency contraceptive pills are designed to temporarily delay your ovulation and prevent pregnancy.
The common belief that birth control and emergency contraceptive pills cause infertility is not true, as there is no scientific proof to this myth. Research clearly shows that emergency contraceptive pills will not stop you from conceiving in future and will not affect your fertility rate.
Is it safe to take emergency contraceptive pills while breastfeeding?
Postinor (Levonorgestrel) is compatible with breastfeeding, however Ulipristal should be avoided during breast feeding. As a word of caution, EC should only be used as a last resort. Hormones from the pill can pass through to the mother’s breast milk but does not affect the quality or quantity of milk produced.
If at all you are still hesitant and worried, it is recommended to express and discard breast milk for 24 hours after taking an emergency contraceptive pill.
Preventing side effects of emergency contraceptive pills
There are many people that experience nausea and fatigue after taking an emergency contraceptive pill. Here are some steps to prevent these side effects.
- Avoid taking the pill on an empty stomach.
- Do not consume any greasy, fried or strong flavoured food.
- Spread eating throughout the day in smaller quantities.
- Take a cup of hot ginger tea to soothe your stomach.
- Relax and avoid any strenuous activity.
When to call a medical professional?
Immediately contact or visit your health provider if you face any of the following symptoms:
- If you have an asthma attack and you are taking cortisone (prednisolone) tablets (this only applies to ulipristal acetate ECPs).
- Continuous vaginal bleeding that does not go away.
- You are not pregnant and your period is more than 7 days late after taking the ECPs.
- An abnormal period cycle with a light flow or an extremely heavy flow.
- Recurring pain in your lower abdominal region as this could mean that a fertilised egg may have implanted outside the womb (ectopic pregnancy)
Where to get emergency contraceptive pills in Singapore?
Emergency contraceptive pills are available for all women in Singapore through a consultation with a medical professionals
ECPs are available at clinics or hospitals, and you can also get the morning after pill sent straight to your doorstep with us. Ova is a direct telemedicine provider that offers this service. All you need to do is speak to one of our qualified health professionals and the emergency contraceptive pill will be delivered to your address within 4 hours.
Conclusion
Emergency contraceptive pills are very safe and are a popular option nowadays as a last minute resort. However, ECP’s do not protect you against a sexually transmitted disease and does not aid on an abortion.
Women should choose to use ECPs when in doubt to avoid having any unwanted pregnancies. If you have any questions, please feel contact us to know more about ECP’s and the best suited option for you.