What You Should Know About the Morning After Pill?
Accidents happen all the time- that is why the morning after pill was invented. Condoms break, or you simply had sex without using protection. If you do not wish to become pregnant, then the morning after pill may be a helpful solution for you!
Its purpose is like regular birth control pills; only the morning after pill must be used within to five days (120 hours) after unprotected sex to effectively prevent pregnancy. The sooner the better!
According to the Planned Parenthood website, emergency contraception contains hormones found in regular birth control pills called progestin. Hormones control how different parts of the body work. So, when an overflow of hormones released, especially during that time of the month, it can cause severe mood swings, skin problems, and intense cravings.
Alyssa Grahmn, a mother of one son and student, used the Plan B emergency contraception since she was not using permanent birth control. “At the time, I wasn’t on any form of birth control, but my boyfriend was on leave for 2 days from the military. I didn’t want to take any risks, so I opted for Plan B. Because I took it within the recommended amount of time, it was effective. I absolutely recommend it to anyone, but only as a last resort. It’s called Plan B for a reason”, Grahmn said.
Some symptoms that may occur are like that when taking regular birth control pills. Breast tenderness, dizziness, headaches, fevers, fatigue, and irregular bleeding may be experienced. Also, this pill will not cause abortions if you are already pregnant because it is not an abortion pill, it is birth control.
It should be noted that the morning after pill should NEVER be a substitution for regular birth control. Not only is it very pricy ($10 to $70 depending on the store) for ONE pill, the hormones in the pill can have damaging effects on the reproductive system if used over a period.
Plan B One-Step and Next Choice are the most popular brands of emergency contraception, although there are many forms of over the counter brands available. If you are 17 years older, it is available without a prescription, and can be obtained anytime at selected drugstores. On the Plan B website, they have a printable request card that can be used if you don’t feel comfortable asking for it.
If you would like more information on contraception and the morning after pill, visit www.plannedparenthood.com, or your local health clinic. Always practice safe sex before anything, because it is called Plan B for a reason!