Having safe sex is an important part of maintaining reproductive health. If you doubt the effectiveness of the contraception used, or feel that the device is not effective during sexual intercourse, you can plan a pregnancy using emergency contraception, also known as the morning after pill.
Step
Part 1 of 2: Using Emergency Contraception
Step 1. Understand how emergency contraception works
Most emergency contraceptives contain the hormone progestin (also called levonorgestrel). This hormone will prevent the ovaries from releasing eggs. If there is no egg, the sperm will not be able to fertilize it.
- This contraceptive has a lower effectiveness during the fertile period or right after the fertile period.
- Emergency contraception generally contains a higher dose of progestin than monthly pregnancy contraceptives. You should not replace the monthly contraceptive pill with emergency contraception. In addition, emergency contraception also cannot abort a pregnancy.
Step 2. Know when to use emergency contraception
Emergency contraception is most effective within 24 hours of having unprotected sex, or when you suspect that the contraceptive method being used is ineffective. However, emergency contraception can still be used a few days later and is still able to prevent an unplanned pregnancy.
- Progestin emergency contraception should be used within 72 hours of having unprotected sex.
- Ulipristal emergency contraception (Ella) should be used within 120 hours of unprotected sex to prevent sperm from fertilizing an egg.
Step 3. Purchase emergency contraception
Emergency contraception is available at doctor's clinics, health clinics, and pharmacies. In pharmacies, these contraceptives may be stored behind the counter.
- You may be able to buy emergency contraception without a prescription without showing your ID, regardless of your age or gender. Some pharmacies may not provide them, or may refuse to sell them on the basis of personal beliefs.
- The price of emergency contraception generally ranges from Rp. 400,000 to Rp. 800,000 without insurance. Insurance may cover some of the costs, according to the package you take.
- Some brands of emergency contraception, such as Ella, must be purchased with a doctor's prescription.
Step 4. Use emergency contraception
Emergency contraception is generally a single dose preparation. However, there are different brands of emergency contraception, so you should always use the pill or tablet as directed by your doctor or the instructions on the package..
- Emergency contraception should be swallowed. Take this medicine along with plenty of water.
- You can also take the pill with food to reduce the chance of nausea.
- Ordinary pregnancy contraceptives can be taken as usual after using emergency contraception.
- If you are unsure of the dose or are worried about something, consult a pharmacist.
Step 5. Know that your next period may change
Emergency contraception will usually affect the hormones that regulate ovulation. So, the first period after using emergency contraception may be early or late.
Your menstrual volume may also decrease or increase than usual
Step 6. Watch for signs of pregnancy
The effectiveness of levonorgestrel pills is 89% when used within 72 hours of having unprotected sex. Similarly, the effectiveness of Ella pills is up to 85% when used within 120 hours of having unprotected sex. So, you still have a chance to get pregnant after using emergency contraception.
- After using the pill, watch for signs of pregnancy, especially a missed period.
- In addition to missed periods, other pregnancy symptoms include dizziness, fatigue, sensitivity to food odors, nausea, and breast tenderness.
- Do a pregnancy test at home or schedule a blood test at the doctor's office to be sure. Home pregnancy tests are available over the counter at pharmacies.
- A pregnancy test checks the level of the hormone hCG in the body, which increases after the fertilized egg implants in the uterus.
Part 2 of 2: Choosing Emergency Contraception
Step 1. Get to know the single-dose progestin pill
Emergency contraception single-dose progestin (levonorgestrel) pills such as Plan B One Step, Next Choice One Dose, and My Way can prevent pregnancy by blocking the release of an egg from the ovary. These pills can be purchased over the counter at a pharmacy or through a doctor.
- These pills should be taken as soon as possible, but are usually still quite effective when taken within 72 hours of having unprotected sex. These pills may also still be effective enough to be used within 12 hours afterward.
- This pill is best suited for women with a BMI under 25 and not suitable for women with a BMI over 30.
- Taking these pills can alter your menstrual cycle, thereby possibly reducing or increasing its volume, and moving the time forward or backward than usual. These pills can also trigger symptoms similar to premenstrual syndrome, such as nausea and stomach cramps.
- Other possible side effects include breast tenderness, dizziness, nausea, and stomach cramps.
Step 2. Identify multiple-dose levonorgestrel tablets
Unlike the single-dose emergency contraceptive pill, 2 double-dose levonorgestrel tablets must be used for both to be effective.
- Take 1 tablet as soon as possible after unprotected sex, followed by a second dose 12 hours later.
- Levonorgestrel tablets can be purchased at your local pharmacy.
- As with other emergency contraceptive pills, side effects of this drug include early or late menstruation, decreased or increased menstrual volume, and stomach cramps.
Step 3. Get to know Ella better
Ella (ulipristal acetate) is a single-dose emergency contraceptive pill, and the only one that can be used up to 5 days after sexual intercourse to prevent pregnancy. However, the sooner it is used, the better its effectiveness will be.
- Depending on the time of use in the menstrual cycle, Ella is able to delay the release of eggs from the ovaries for up to 5 days after use. This means that the sperm that are still inside will not be able to survive long enough to fertilize the egg.
- Ella is a more suitable choice for women with a BMI over 25 than the progestin pill. However, its effectiveness was lower in women with a BMI over 35.
- Ella can only be purchased by prescription, and the most common side effects from its use are headache, stomach pain, nausea, dysmenorrhea, fatigue, and dizziness.
Tips
- The use of regular contraceptives such as condoms or birth control pills is much more effective than emergency contraception. Take birth control pills as usual, and use emergency contraception as a last resort.
- If you think you need emergency contraception, you should consider using a more reliable contraceptive and consult with your doctor.
Warning
- Emergency contraception does not protect you from sexually transmitted diseases. Use protection not only to prevent pregnancy, but also to avoid STDs. Check for STDs after unprotected sex.
- You should understand that emergency contraception should not be used to plan a pregnancy.
- Emergency contraception is not the abortion pill. This means that emergency contraception cannot abort a fertilized egg if you are already pregnant, and the fetus is already attached to your uterus.
