If you have unprotected sex or are worried that your contraceptive method is not working, you may be worried about getting pregnant outside of the plan. Emergency contraception, such as the “emergency pill,” can prevent pregnancy and put your mind at ease. You can buy emergency contraceptive pills at a pharmacy or health clinic, or by asking a doctor for a prescription.
Step
Part 1 of 4: Getting the Emergency Pill
Step 1. Visit the nearest pharmacy or store
You can buy over-the-counter emergency contraceptive pills at pharmacies and some major drug stores or supermarkets. The price of emergency contraceptive pills varies, from Rp. 35,000 to Rp. 150,000.
- Emergency contraception pills are usually found under other family planning methods, such as condoms.
- If you don't see an emergency pill on the shelf, check with the pharmacy staff.
- There are several generic and brand options. Both are equally effective and you can decide based on your budget and whether you are sensitive to any of the active ingredients.
- Be aware that some drugstores don't sell emergency pills for corporate moral reasons. Consider calling ahead if you have reason to suspect that the store owner doesn't approve of postponing pregnancy.
Step 2. Visit a sexual health clinic or public clinic
Maybe you can get emergency pills from a sexual health clinic or health center. If you come during business hours, this method is easier and more private than buying at the drug store.
- The emergency pills here might be available for free, or the clinic might lower prices for people who can't afford it. You may have to provide income and insurance information if you want relief.
- You can try visiting the Indonesian Family Planning Association (PKBI) Clinic in your city.
- Most companies provide clinics that may provide regular or emergency contraceptive pills. If you are unsure whether these pills are available, check with the nurse or staff at the clinic.
Step 3. Get a doctor's prescription
Doctors can prescribe emergency contraception. If you're not sure what to choose or have questions about the emergency pill, schedule an appointment with your doctor. Tell the receptionist that you have an urgent matter so the doctor can see you as soon as possible.
- You have to explain the situation to the doctor, then the doctor can prescribe emergency pills for you. Your doctor may also recommend that you use regular contraception.
- The most common contraceptive is Plan B.
- The NorLevo brand is not as effective in women with a Body Mass Index (BMI) above 35. This may also be true with other brands of emergency contraceptive pills.
- Remember that you should take these pills as soon as possible because their effectiveness decreases if you wait.
Part 2 of 4: Using the Emergency Pill
Step 1. Take the emergency pill as soon as possible
If you have unprotected sex and are worried about getting pregnant, take the emergency pill as soon as possible. Usually, you can take the emergency pill up to five days after intercourse.
- Be aware that women under age must carry a prescription for emergency pills.
- You can take the emergency pill at any time in your menstrual cycle.
- The emergency pill is a safe and effective way to prevent pregnancy. However, these pills are not to be used as regular contraception.
Step 2. Talk to the pharmacist about the indications
Although all women can use emergency pills, their effectiveness in each woman may not be the same and some women may be allergic to these pills. Make sure you read and understand the indications or contraindications of the emergency pill.
- The effectiveness of the emergency pill is reduced for women with a BMI over 25.
- Certain medications such as barbiturates or other supplements such as St. John's Wort might reduce the effectiveness of the emergency pill.
- If you are allergic to any of the components of the emergency pill, their effectiveness is also reduced.
Step 3. Watch for side effects
There are some women who feel side effects after taking emergency pills. These side effects usually disappear after a few days. Here are the side effects that you may experience after taking the emergency pill:
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Fatigue, dizziness, or headache.
- Breast pain and lower abdominal pain or cramping.
- Bleeding between periods or severe menstrual cramps.
- Call your doctor right away if you have blood or spotting for more than a week or if you have severe stomach pain 3–5 weeks after taking the emergency pill. This can help prevent pregnancy outside the womb.
Step 4. Repeat the emergency pill if you vomit
One of the most common side effects of emergency pills is nausea. If you vomit one hour after taking the pill, repeat with the same dose.
- Do not repeat the whole process, only the dose you vomit.
- You may need to take anti-nausea medication to calm your stomach.
Step 5. Avoid taking several different emergency contraceptive pills at once
Just use one. The use of two types of emergency pills will not double their effectiveness in preventing pregnancy, but will reduce their effectiveness.
You are more likely to experience nausea, vomiting, and other side effects if you take several types of emergency pills at once
Step 6. Use supportive contraception
If you are already taking the emergency pill and are not using regular contraception, use supportive contraception. This can help prevent an unplanned pregnancy.
- Consider using condoms as supportive contraception.
- Use supportive contraception for 14 days after taking the emergency pill.
Part 3 of 4: Using Regular Contraceptive Pills for Emergency Contraception
Step 1. Determine your dose
If you take regular birth control pills and miss a dose, you can increase your dose as a form of emergency contraception. However, talk to your doctor or pharmacist first to determine how many pills you should take.
- You can also discuss your options with the PKBI officer.
- The size of a dose varies depending on the type, maybe 4 or 5 pills.
Step 2. Take two doses
After determining how many pills are needed, take two doses every 12 hours. This method is a method of preventing pregnancy that is considered safe and effective.
- Take the first dose no later than 5 days or 120 hours after unprotected intercourse.
- Take the second dose 12 hours after the first dose. Less or more an hour than that doesn't matter.
Step 3. Don't take extra pills
You may be tempted to take more than 4-5 pills to make sure they work, but this will not reduce your chances of getting pregnant. The only effect is to increase the likelihood of stomach upset.
If you have severe stomach pain, seek medical attention
Part 4 of 4: Start Using Regular Contraceptives
Step 1. Consider your family's expectations and lifestyle
When deciding to use contraception, there are many factors to consider, such as whether and when you want to have children, whether or not you want to take the pill if you take medication every day, as well as your lifestyle, such as whether you travel a lot. With this question in mind, you can determine which type of contraception is most suitable.
- If you and your husband want to wait a few years to have children, you can choose a long-term method of contraception such as an intrauterine device (IUD).
- For double protection from pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, you can use the contraceptive pill and condoms.
- Think about questions like, “Do I have to use contraception every time I have sex?”, “Will I remember taking a pill every day?”, “Do I want to permanently end fertility?”.
- You also need to think about your health. For example, if you have migraines, the contraceptive pill may not be the best option.
Step 2. Consider another barrier method
You can choose a barrier method that is placed or inserted right before intercourse, such as male and female condoms, diaphragms, cervical caps, or spermicides.
- If used correctly, this method can prevent pregnancy, but it may be a secondary method to make sure you don't get pregnant. For example, if you use condoms, which have a failure rate of 2–18%, you may need to use a spermicide.
- The advantage of the barrier method is that it also protects against sexually transmitted infections.
Step 3. Try hormonal contraception
Hormonal contraceptives have a low failure rate, less than 1–9%, so they are a good option if you want to avoid pregnancy in a long-term relationship. Examples of hormonal contraception are the pill, patch, and vaginal ring. The contraceptive pill provides the added benefit of helping to regulate the menstrual cycle.
Step 4. Consider an IUD or implant
If you don't want to have children yet, you can choose a temporary, long-term method of contraception such as an IUD, hormone injection, or an implant. It may take some time for fertility to return after using this method, but it doesn't affect your ability to conceive in the long term.
Step 5. Consider sterilization options if you really don't want to have children
Sterilization is an option to consider if you don't want to have children. Procedures such as vasectomy and fallopian tube ligation are final and should be seriously considered before a decision is made.
Step 6. Know the potential risks of different types of contraceptive methods
Every method of contraception has potential risks, including unplanned pregnancy. Be aware of these potential risks and side effects to help you decide on the best method.
- Hormonal contraceptives, such as pills, patches, and vaginal rings, increase blood pressure and affect cholesterol.
- Barrier methods such as condoms, spermicides, and cervical caps can cause allergic reactions and increase the risk of urinary tract infections or sexually transmitted diseases.
- Risks of long-term temporary contraceptive methods include uterine perforation, increased risk of pelvic inflammatory disease and ectopic pregnancy, and painful menstruation with heavy bleeding.
Tips
- Choose a contraceptive method that is safer and suits your lifestyle and relationship.
- Take the emergency pill as soon as possible. The faster, the more effective.
- Check to see if you have a sexually transmitted disease if you have unprotected sex.
Warning
- Do not use the emergency pill as a regular method of contraception. Emergency contraception is not reliable in the long term, it is only 90% effective compared to condoms which are 99% effective, or 98% if you take regular contraceptive pills.
- Emergency pills cannot protect against sexually transmitted diseases.
