Emergency Contraceptive Pills Side Effects: Emergency Contraception Use

Posted on August 17, 2011 by PUP in Pregnancy & Childbirth 2

The use of emergency contraceptive pill is a boon for those women, who do not want to get pregnant after having an unprotected sex. Besides, the side effects of emergency contraceptive pills is minimal and not of serious nature. Even if there are any side effects they are for short term, this means that emergency contraceptive pills can be used safely in most cases.

When To Use Emergency Contraception?

Emergency contraception is one of the methods of birth control. A woman can make use of this method if she is worried of becoming pregnant, after having unprotected sex.

The caveat is, this pills are meant only for emergency purpose, and cannot be taken daily as a substitute of regular birth control pills. A woman can use emergency contraceptive pill in following circumstances:

  • When she has forgotten to take her regular birth control pill.
  • If she has not used any birth control measure prior to sexual intercourse.
  • Failure of birth control method. For example tearing of condom while performing the act.
  • If the vaginal diaphragm has slipped.
  • When she has been forced to have sex, without any birth control precautions.
  • If the male partner has not pulled out in time.

The effect of emergency contraceptive pill is highest when taken soon after or within 72 hours of an unprotected sexual intercourse. However, it can work up to 5 days.

Side Effects Of Emergency Contraceptive Pills

Though rarely observed, emergency contraceptive pills side effects are minimal. The intensity of side effects is low. These side effects do not last long or do not have any long term effects. These side effects are due to the high level of hormones found in emergency contraceptive pill.

Some of the common side effects are:

  • Pain in the abdomen, not of severe intensity.
  • Nausea.
  • Due to nausea, she may not to eat food sufficiently.
  • Feeling tired.
  • Occasional spotting or bleeding heavily before the due date of next period.
  • Tenderness in breast.
  • Feeling of heaviness in breast.
  • Headache.
  • Dizziness.
  • Vomiting.

Emergency contraceptive pills containing progestin only, may not make the woman as sick as the pill containing hormones, progesterone and estrogen. The side effects go away within one or two days.

Emergency Contraceptive Pills Disadvantages

Disadvantages of the emergency contraceptive pills include:

  • If the woman has breast cancer she cannot take it.
  • Women with history of blood clots or any blood abnormalities should talk to physician before taking emergency contraceptive pills.
  • Your regular periods may come earlier or later than expected date.
  • Using this type of contraceptive method is less effective when used regularly as compared to other methods of contraception.
  • Emergency contraceptive pills have no action once the fertilized egg attaches itself to the uterine wall. Do not consider it as an abortion pill.
  • Emergency contraceptive pill only protects the women from becoming pregnant. It does not protect her from sexually transmitted diseases as well as HIV after an unprotected sex.
  • In some states it is the prescription drug for women under the age of 17.

Emergency contraceptive pills contain the same hormone found in regular birth control pill, but in higher concentration. This pill is popularly known as ‘morning after pills’.

Emergency contraceptive pill works on any of the three levels to prevent pregnancy. It prevents the release of egg from the ovaries. Prevents the fertilization of egg by sperms and thirdly it prevents a fertilized egg from attaching itself on the inner walls of the uterus.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.