Content

• Steps
• Advice
• Warning

Having safe sex is an important part of reproductive health care. If you are unsure whether the method of contraception you choose will work or if you suspect that it has failed after sex, you can use the method of family planning with emergency contraceptive pills, also called is the "pill for the next morning".

Steps

Part 1 of 2: Use of emergency contraception

1. 

   Understand how emergency contraception works. Most EC pills are formulated with the synthetic hormone progestin (also called levonorgestrel). This hormone works to suppress the ovaries to ovulate. And without an egg, sperm cannot be fertilized.
   • If you are nearing the date of ovulation or just ovulating, the effectiveness of the medication is significantly reduced.
   • EC pills usually have a higher level of progestin than regular birth control pills. You should not substitute emergency contraceptive pills for regular methods of contraception, and EC pills cannot terminate your pregnancy if you are pregnant.

2. 

   
   
   Know when to take emergency contraception. EC is most effective when taken within 24 hours of having unprotected sex or after you suspect your birth control has failed. However, you can also take it for a few days and still have unwanted contraception.
   • The progestin emergency contraceptive pill should be taken within 72 hours of having unprotected sex.
   • The ulipristal acetate (Ella) emergency contraceptive should be taken within 120 hours of sex to prevent sperm from fertilizing an egg.

3. 

   
   
   Going to buy medicine. EC pills are available at doctor's clinics, medical centers, and drug stores. This medication can be left behind the counter in pharmacies.
   • You can buy over-the-counter EC pills without ID, regardless of gender and age. However, some pharmacies may not store emergency contraceptive pills or refuse to sell them due to their personal beliefs.
   • EC pills usually cost between 35-60 USD if there is no insurance. Some insurance may pay for a portion, depending on the plan. (In Vietnam, these contraceptives are only a few thousand to several tens of thousands dong, the highest like Ella about 150,000 dong).
   • Some brands, like Ella, sell by prescription.

4. 

   
   
   Take medicines. Emergency contraceptive pills are usually used for a single pill. However, different brands may have different uses, so you should always take it as directed by your doctor or the instructions on the package.
   • Emergency contraceptive for oral use. Use plenty of water when taking the medicine.
   • You can take it with food to reduce the risk of nausea.
   • Still take your normal daily birth control pill after taking EC pills.
   • If you are unsure about the dose or have other concerns, consult your pharmacist.

5. 

   Know that your next period is going to be unusual. The emergency contraceptive pills often disturb the hormones to inhibit ovulation, so it is normal for the first period after taking the pill to arrive early or late.
   • Your period will be more or less than usual.

6. 

   Watch for signs of pregnancy. Levonogestrel pills are 89% effective if taken within 72 hours of having unprotected sex. Similarly, Ella pills are up to 85% effective if taken within 120 hours of sexual intercourse. However, there is still a risk of becoming pregnant after taking EC pills.
   • Watch for signs of pregnancy after taking the pill, especially if your period has missed.
   • In addition to amenorrhea, pregnancy symptoms include dizziness, fatigue, fear of the smell of food, nausea, and breast tenderness.
   • Use a home pregnancy test or an appointment for a blood test at the office to determine if you are pregnant. Home pregnancy tests are available at drug stores in family planning stores.
   • Pregnancy tests check the levels of the hormone hCG in the body. The hCG hormone level will increase as soon as a fertilized egg implants in the uterus.

Part 2 of 2: Choosing emergency contraceptive pills

1. 

   Learn about single-dose progestin pills. Single-dose progestin (levonogestrel) oral contraceptive pills (such as Plan B One Step, Next Choice One Dose, and My Way) prevent pregnancy by preventing ovulation from the ovaries. It can be found in pharmacies without a prescription or with a prescription.
   • These medications should be taken as soon as possible within 72 hours of sex. However, it can be effective for up to 120 hours.
   • These medications may be most effective for women with a body mass index (BMI) below 25 and less effective for women with a BMI above 30.
   • This medication can change the menstrual cycle, making the next one more or less likely to occur earlier or later. It can also cause symptoms similar to premenstrual symptoms such as nausea and upset stomach.
   • Other side effects include breast tenderness, dizziness, nausea, and abdominal pain.

2. 

   Find out about the two-dose levonorgestrel oral tablet. Unlike a single-dose EC pill, the two-dose levonorgestrel oral pill requires two to be effective.
   • Take one pill as soon as possible after sex and a second pill 12 hours later.
   • Levonorgestrel oral tablets can be purchased in pharmacies.
   • Like other emergency contraceptive pills, the side effects of this medication include: early or late periods, less or more frequent periods, and abdominal pain.

3. 

   Learn about Ella pills. Ella (ulipristal acetate) is a single-dose oral contraceptive and is the only contraceptive that is effective for 5 days after sex; however, the earlier you drink it, the more effective it is.
   • Depending on when to drink during her menstrual cycle, Ella can delay ovulation up to 5 days after drinking. This means that the sperm cannot survive that long for fertilization.
   • Ella is a good choice for women with a BMI above 25 than a progestin pill, but its effectiveness is lower in women with a BMI over 35.
   • Ella is available only by prescription, and the most common side effects are headache, abdominal pain, nausea, menstruation, fatigue, and dizziness.

Advice

• Other normal methods of contraception such as condoms or daily birth control pills are much more effective than emergency contraceptive pills. Conventional birth control should be used and emergency contraceptive pills only as a last resort.
• If you need to take emergency contraception, you should consider talking to your doctor about a more reliable birth control pill.

Warning

• Emergency contraception does not protect you from sexually transmitted diseases. Use protection not only to prevent pregnancy but also to prevent sexually transmitted diseases. Check for these diseases after having had unprotected sex.
• The pill is not an abortion pill. This means that it cannot terminate the pregnancy if the egg has fertilized and the fetus has implanted in the uterus.
• Be aware that emergency contraceptive pills should not be used as regular birth control.