How effective is the morning after pill?

What’s covered?

Emergency contraceptive pill provides reasonable efficacy against unprotected sex.

Women mostly use oral contraceptives to prevent pregnancy. But, the efficacy of these pills is not 100%, and very few women (less than 1% if pills are used properly) still become pregnant. Moreover, they also have to be used regularly.

What is emergency contraception?

What should be done to avoid pregnancy if you have unprotected sexual intercourse? The answer is ''emergency contraception''. It is a form of hormonal contraception used when the traditionally used birth control methods were not used or have failed. It is also effective if you are a victim of non-consensual sex.

What is a morning after pill?

It was the standard treatment for emergency contraception when the birth control methods were not used or you could not use them. Emergency contraception if required if you;

• Have undergone unprotected sex

• You have missed taking the pill or the male condom has ruptured

• You are a victim of non-consensual sex

How does the morning-after pill work?

It works just like other contraceptives, i.e., by blocking the release of an egg, preventing fertilisation or reducing the thickness of the endometrium, thus making it unfit for conception. So, these pills can't reverse the pregnancy if the foetus has already been attached; they prevent the pregnancy.

What are the different emergency contraceptive pills, and how effective are they?

Several different pills are available, e.g.,

Levonorgestrel

It is the standard morning-after pill, which WHO and MHRA recommend for emergency contraception. It has to be used within 72 hours of unprotected sex or after a recognised failure of other contraceptives.

It works by preventing the release of an egg from the ovary and by preventing fertilisation if the egg has already been released. It could be used as a single 1.5mg dose, or alternately, two 0.75mg doses can be used 12 hours apart.

How effective is levonorgestrel?

It is highly effective at preventing pregnancy, provided it is taken within the prescribed time. A review published by the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health found that the rate of pregnancy was reduced to just 2.3% by using levonorgestrel within 5 days.

Another study published by BMC Women's health in 2014 found that using a single 1.5mg pill reduced the pregnancy rate to 0.64-1.28% when used within the right time. The rate was similar when the 0.75mg pill was used at 12- or 24 hours intervals.

At Welzo, we have Levonorgestrel 1.5 mg pills available for you. Click here to consult our sexual health experts and place the order.

Ulipristal

Ulipristal acetate is another emergency contraceptive pill recommended by WHO. It blocks the progesterone receptors and the release of an egg from the ovary. So, even if male semen is there, there is no chance of pregnancy provided the pill is taken at right time.

How effective is Ulipristal?

It is effective for up to 5 days of unprotected sex, but the effectiveness drops with time. You need to consult your physician before using it.

Its effectiveness is well documented. For example, a study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal in 2016 found that the rate of pregnancy was just 1.3% when the ulipristal was used within 5 days.

However, preventing pregnancy was more effective when the drug was used earlier. A 2016 study published in the Australian Prescriber found that the pregnancy rate was reduced to 0.9% when ulipristal was used within 72 hours. The study group received 50mg ulipristal.

At Welzo, we have a pill which provides 30 mg of ulipristal. Click here to consult our health experts and place your order.

Progestin-only pills

Progestin is the synthetic form of natural progesterone. These pills are used for women who have problems with oestrogen. It prevents pregnancy by delaying ovulation (release of an egg). Since a single pill has very little active hormone (around 75 micrograms), you may need to take several pills simultaneously to ensure a negative pregnancy test.

How effective are the progestin-only pills?

It gives more than 99% efficacy when used for regular contraception. However, when used as an emergency contraceptive, the efficacy drops, and a 2004 research found that it effectively prevents 88% of pregnancies.

For best results, this pill should be taken as soon as after unprotected sex. Although it is effective up to 3-5 days after unprotected sex, the effectiveness drops with time.

At Welzo, we have a MHRA approved progestin-only pill (Carazette) for you. Click here to place your order after consulting our health experts.

Combined pills

These pills contain both oestrogen and progesterone. These pills are not available over the counter; you must consult a healthcare professional before using them. Usually, two doses are required. Some combined pills combine levonorgestrel with Ethinyl oestradiol.

These pills reduce the risk of unintended pregnancies by 75%.

What should you do after unprotected sex?

It is the time that matters. You shouldn't be confused by the name, and don't wait till the next morning. Take the pill as soon as you can. However, manufacturers provide some time frames for each type of pill. For example, the combined pills and the ovulation blockers are effective up to five days (120 hours), but progestin-only pills are effective for up to 3 days (72 hours).

Every day outside this window will increase your chances of getting pregnant.

Conclusion

The emergency contraception protect you from unplanned pregnancy. These pills are used when the traditional methods have failed, or you don't have time to put them in place. These pills provide a good spectrum of protection if used as soon as possible after unprotected sex. However, their effectiveness declines after this time. So, instead of waiting for the next morning, take the pill immediately for better results.

Emergency contraceptive pills do not protect against sexually transmitted infections; you still need to follow safe sex practices.

We have more information about the menstrual cycle and contraception on our information pages at Welzo. Click here to explore our products and services.

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