Morning After Pill
Morning After Pill – What You Need To Know
Executive summary about Morning After Pill By Margarette Tustle
Morning After Pill
This article will not discuss the moral implications of the morning after pill; it will merely discuss what the morning after pill is, how it works, and how to use it. This morning after pill is used as a contraceptive for women who desire to prevent pregnancy in cases of an unwanted sexual encounter, unprotected sex, or a failed contraceptive device. It is not an “abortion” morning after pill like the drug known as RU486. The morning after pill is also sometimes called “Plan B”. The morning after pill does not cause a spontaneous abortion.
There are two morning after pills that are taken as part of this form of contraceptive. The first morning after pill must be taken within 72 hours of intercourse and the second morning after pill within 12 hours after the first morning after pill.
Talk to your doctor as soon as possible after unprotected sex, unwanted sex or if you feel that your contraceptive device somehow failed if you are interested in the morning after pill, because you only have a limited time in which it will be effective. The morning after pill is not available over the counter.
How it Works
Source: www.npr.org
Emergency contraception (EC) pills or Morning After Pill contain the hormone progestin or a combination of estrogen and progestin. The morning after pill, is usually given in two doses, ultimately work to prevent implantation of a fertilized egg into the uterus. EC is most effective when taken within three days after having unprotected sex.
Depending on when the morning after pills are taken during the menstrual cycle, EC can block or delay ovulation, interfere with fertilization or prevent implantation.
EC, often called the morning after pill, is not the same as RU-486 or mifepristone, so called abortion pill. Once implantation occurs, EC is useless. Abortion pills, however, work after implantation by killing an embryo, and then expelling it.
Controversy is ongoing over the definition of pregnancy. The ACOG says pregnancy only occurs with the implantation of a fertilized egg. But right-to-life groups argue pregnancy occurs with fertilization.
You can also read information about ovulation calendar to avoid pregnancy.
