THE MORNING AFTER PILL
consists of a short course of special high-dose hormone pills, which can be a combined hormone tablet with both oestrogen and progesterone or progesterone only. They are taken to reduce the chance of pregnancy after unprotected sex or contraception failure.
How it works
Abortifacients may prevent ovulation – giving the male sperm a chance to die.
Abortifacients alter the tubal transport of the sperm and ova – fertilisation is prevented.
Abortifacients alter cervical mucus to prevent sperm (in “crypts”) entering the uterus.
Abortifacients alters the lining of the uterus to prevent the fertilised egg from implanting, resulting in an abortifacient action.
| Possible side effects | Contraindications |
| Nausea and vomiting | High blood pressure |
| Headache and dizziness | Allergy to ingredients |
| Breast tenderness | Not able to take The Pill |
| Ectopic pregnancy | Previous ectopic pregnancy |
| Unplanned / breakthrough bleeding | Smoking – cigarettes / cannabis |
| Menstrual disturbances | Interaction with other drugs |
| Blood clots – deep vein thrombosis | History of thrombosis – blood clots – DVT |
| Fluid retention | Diabetes – heart disease – Crohn’s disease |
When to expect a period
The woman’s period could be early, on time or delayed. Most women have a period within three weeks of taking the morning-after pill. The light bleeding some women experience a few days after taking the pills may not be a normal period.
If the woman is already pregnant
If the woman conceived in a previous cycle or earlier in her present cycle, the morning-after pill will not stop that pregnancy continuing and there is no evidence to indicate that there is any risk to the developing baby.
If a pregnancy occurs
If the woman does become pregnant, there is a small risk that the pregnancy will be ectopic (implantation outside the womb). If this happens, it is serious. If the woman’s period is late or unduly light or she suspects she is pregnant, a pregnancy test could be done.
Contraception during the remainder of the cycle
The morning-after pill will not protect the woman from becoming pregnant from another act of intercourse later in the same cycle.