Morning after pill how does it work

If you're aged 16 or over, you can buy the emergency contraceptive pill from most pharmacies, in person or online, and from some organisations, such as the British Pregnancy Advisory Service BPAS. If you need emergency contraception, call your GP surgery, a pharmacy or a sexual health clinic as soon as possible.

Only go in person if asked to. You can also buy emergency contraception directly from a pharmacy or private sexual health clinic without a prescription. If you're not using a regular method of contraception, you might consider doing so to protect yourself from an unintended pregnancy. There are several methods of contraception that protect you for a long period, so you don't have to think about them once they're in place, or remember to use or take them every day or every time you have sex.

See a GP, nurse or visit your nearest sexual health clinic to discuss the options available. Contraception services are free and confidential, including for people under the age of If you're under 16 and want contraception, the doctor, nurse or pharmacist won't tell your parents or carer as long as they believe you fully understand the information you're given, and the decisions you're making.

Doctors and nurses work under strict guidelines when dealing with people under They'll encourage you to consider telling your parents, but they won't make you.

The only time a professional might want to tell someone else is if they believe you're at risk of harm, such as abuse. The risk would need to be serious, and they would usually discuss this with you first.

Page last reviewed: 22 February Next review due: 22 February Emergency contraception morning after pill, IUD - Your contraception guide Secondary navigation Getting started How does the female condom work? Where to get contraception. What is emergency contraception? Where can I get emergency contraception? Emergency contraception. Things to consider Age, health, lifestyle, side effects How effective is contraception at preventing pregnancy?

You do not need a script from a doctor or nurse to buy the emergency contraceptive pill. Other possible side effects for a small number of users can include: nausea headaches dizziness abdominal tummy pain. There are no known serious risks from taking emergency contraceptive pills. Reasons why the emergency contraceptive pill might not be a good option for you: Have an allergy to any ingredients. If you weigh more than 70kg the levonorgestrel emergency contraceptive pill may be less effective.

Consider the non-hormonal copper IUD or ulipristal acetate emergency contraceptive pill. If you weigh more than 85kg the ulipristal acetate emergency contraceptive pill may be less effective. Consider the non-hormonal copper IUD for emergency contraception. Severe liver conditions. Severe asthma and using cortisone prednisolone tablets only applies to ulipristal acetate emergency contraceptive pills. Are taking certain types of medication, including other contraceptives. If you are breastfeeding and taking ulipristal acetate emergency contraceptive pill, it is recommended you express and throw out breastmilk for 24 hours.

Emergency contraceptive pills are safe to take at any stage after having a baby. The levonorgestrel emergency contraceptive pill will not affect your breast milk. Emergency contraception does not protect you from sexually transmissible infections STIs. If you have had unprotected sex, you may need an STI screen. Use of the emergency contraceptive pill is not an abortion. This drug terminates an established pregnancy — one in which the fertilized egg has attached to the uterine wall and has begun to develop.

Emergency contraception is an effective option for preventing pregnancy after unprotected sex, but it isn't as effective as other methods of contraception and isn't recommended for routine use. Also, the morning-after pill can fail even with correct use, and it offers no protection against sexually transmitted infections. If you're overweight or obese, there's some indication that the morning-after pill won't be as effective in preventing pregnancy as it is for women who aren't overweight.

Also, make sure you're not pregnant before using ulipristal. The effects of ulipristal on a developing baby are unknown. If you're breast-feeding, ulipristal isn't recommended. For maximum effectiveness, emergency contraception should be started as soon as possible after unprotected intercourse, and within hours.

You can take emergency contraceptive pills anytime during your menstrual cycle. Using the morning-after pill may delay your period by up to one week.

If you don't get your period within three to four weeks of taking the morning-after pill, take a pregnancy test. Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content. Misinformation about emergency contraception 'the morning after pill' means that women are not taking advantage of effective ways of preventing pregnancy.

Read more on Marie Stopes Australia website. Following unprotected sex or contraceptive failure, emergency contraception can help avoid an unplanned pregnancy. Both morning-after pills and the copper IUD are effective options. Learn more about it with this guide from ReachOut. Read more on ReachOut. Read more on Better Health Channel website. An abortion or termination is the medical process of ending a pregnancy so it does not result in the birth of a baby.

Modern contraception options and methods offer safe and effective ways of preventing pregnancy, helping couples plan their family. Marie Stopes contraception services specialise in the most effective methods at preventing unplanned pregnancy. Contact us today to discuss your options. There are many different methods of contraception to avoid pregnancy including the oral contraceptive pill OCP , the mini-pill, a condom, an intrauterine….

Read more on Jean Hailes for Women's Health website. Contraception is the use of hormones, devices or surgery to prevent a woman from becoming pregnant. It allows couples to choose if and when they want to have a baby.

Ultrasound scans in pregnancy are a way of checking on the developing baby. Ultrasound scans use high-frequency soundwaves to create moving images. Read more on myDr website. While fertility naturally declines with age, there is still a chance of pregnancy for up to 12 months after the last menstrual period for women over 50 24 months for women who reach menopause before 50 years. Read more on Australasian Menopause Society website.