The morning after pill allows you to breathe a sigh of relief if you have had unprotected sex or if you fear that the precautions taken have not been effective. Nowadays it has become easier to find it and in some places it is given for free. First get it and first solve this problem.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Get the Pill
Step 1. Go directly to the pharmacy
In the United States and other European countries (not in Italy, at least until today), you can buy the morning after pill directly at the pharmacy; it is not loanable, so you pay full price, around 12 euros. Perhaps you can find it in the form of a generic drug and in this case the price may be slightly lower. This is especially true in the United States, where the morning after pill is generally readily available.
If you don't see it on display, ask your pharmacist directly. While it has been indicated in countries like the United States that it should be as accessible as other birth control products, some brands are sometimes stored or kept behind the counter. This way the pharmacist can also tell you about it while he hands it to you
Step 2. Go to a sexual health clinic, such as Planned Parenthood
In the UK, you can get the morning after pill at your nearest sexual health clinic or NHS walk-in center for free. If you need the pill on a weekday and during office hours, this is probably your best bet.
In the United States, the price of the drug changes in relation to the patient's economic conditions to make it accessible even to those who cannot afford the market price. In this case, you will be asked for your income and health insurance to determine the amount to be paid
Step 3. See your family doctor
Book an appointment with your healthcare provider, but let them know this is an urgent matter and you need to see them as soon as possible. You will need to explain the situation to him so that he can prescribe the drug for you.
If you can't get an appointment with your doctor, you can go to other centers for assistance. Try calling the family planning association, counseling center, or equivalent in your country; with an internet search you should find references and addresses quite easily
Step 4. Find out what may be available at your university or college
Most colleges have a health center with a doctor or nurse that can usually be accessed in urgent cases like yours. If you are not sure how or when it is available, ask a staff member, look for a poster or flyer that has the information on it, or just ask to speak to the nurse.
Getting an appointment with your family doctor can be difficult at times if you need to see him urgently on a tight schedule; sometimes the clinic at the university (if any) may be more suitable for your situation. Often affiliated student organizations also offer a reduction in cost
Step 5. Learn about the different options
There are several products on the market and all of them basically produce the same effects. Some require a minimum age to be hired, but in any case, you will probably not be asked to show your identification document. If necessary, the nurse or pharmacist will also be able to indicate the most suitable drug for you.
- In the UK, there are two main types of morning-after pills that are sold most frequently. The most common is Levonelle which is effective for up to 72 hours (3 days) after having unprotected sex and can be purchased in pharmacies by women over 16 years of age. If you are over 18, you may also be prescribed a new pill, ellaOne, which works for up to five days after unprotected intercourse.
- In the United States, you can get the morning after pill in most pharmacies without showing your identity card. Plan-B One Step and Next Dose are effective for up to 3 days later, but do not work in women with a body mass index (BMI) above 30. Ella (other than the UK version) is effective for up to 5 days for women with a BMI below 35, although a prescription is generally required.
- Norlevo is not very effective in women who weigh more than 75 kg, and it is completely ineffective in those weighing more than 80 kg; the same thing goes for the other brands of the morning after pill.
- Keep in mind that you should take it as soon as possible, as the effectiveness decreases with each passing day. This is true regardless of the brand you buy.
Part 2 of 2: Act quickly
Step 1. Move quickly
The morning-after pill, or emergency contraceptive pill, is very effective in preventing pregnancy if it is taken very soon after unprotected intercourse. Some are effective for up to 3 days, while others for up to 5. However, you are more likely to get positive results if you take it as soon as possible.
Read the instructions on the package and talk to your pharmacist or nurse. Make sure you follow the directions exactly. By knowing the instructions you will also be prepared for the side effects
Step 2. If you have been given 2 pills, take them 12 hours apart
Generally, the old types of contraceptives require the intake of 2 pills, which must be taken 12 hours apart; so make sure you take the first one at a time that allows you to catch the next one exactly 12 hours later (ie, if you take the first one at 5:00 pm, you will have to wake up at 5:00 am to catch the second one).
Stick to these timelines scrupulously. The body needs to process hormones at specific times and this interval has been established for a specific reason
Step 3. Expect your period within a week
Once you have taken the pill, you may notice symptoms of fatigue, headache, nausea and vomiting. This is normal. Within 7 days, you should also have your period.
If you don't get your period within 2 to 3 weeks, make an appointment with your doctor. you may be pregnant. The pill was designed to give you periods, so if that doesn't happen it may not have been effective. Find out by asking for medical advice
Advice
- Choose a safer method of contraception that suits your lifestyle and relationships.
- Talk to your partner, or future partners, about the contraceptives you want to use, and make sure the new partners are absolutely healthy if you decide not to use a condom.
- Take the morning-after pill as soon as possible; the sooner you take it, the more effective it will be.
- Get screened for sexually transmitted diseases they can cause major problems if left untreated, and many are asymptomatic.
Warnings
- The morning-after pill should not be taken by people with liver problems, but it is indicated with almost all other conditions.
- Do not use this method as a normal contraceptive. First of all, your doctor won't prescribe it repeatedly, plus you'll spend a fortune in the long run. Secondly, it is not a very reliable form of birth control, it is only about 90% effective, compared to 99% of the condom or 98% of the contraceptive pill. It is foolish to take risks. In addition, the contraceptive pill is given free of charge in many places and there is no possibility that it will not be prescribed to you. Condoms are also often freely available at universities, colleges and counseling centers.
- In case of ineffectiveness, it has not yet been determined with certainty whether it causes harm to the fetus.
- Do not use the pill twice in a single menstrual cycle. Its effectiveness is reduced.
- Know that the morning after pill won't prevent you from all kinds of STIs (sexually transmitted infections), which in the long run cause a lot of damage if not treated properly. For this reason, it is in your best interest to find a center to undergo regular screening for sexually transmitted diseases. It may be a daunting task, but it's worth it for your peace of mind. The only way to fully protect yourself from STIs is to use a condom.
- The morning-after pill can cause side effects, including: vomiting or nausea (about one in sixty women usually vomit but generally feel mostly sick), headache, stomach pain, sensitive breasts, bleeding, dizziness. Read the drug information sheet for more information.
