We have talked about when to take the morning-after pill. The pill’s hormones are passed through to breastmilk but don’t appear to cause harm to the development or health of the breastfeeding infant. Research also indicates that if you take the morning-after pill while you are breastfeeding, it may decrease milk production. If you take the morning-after pill and discover you are pregnant, studies show that the medication does not harm the pregnancy if you choose to continue it. The closer it is taken to the time of unprotected sex or failed contraception, the higher the chances that it will prevent pregnancy. It is only 25% effective if five days have passed.

If it is taken within 72 hours, the effectiveness drops to about 75-89%. How effective is the morning-after pill? If it is taken within 24 hours, there is a 95% chance that it will prevent pregnancy. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the morning-after pill for up to 72 hours however, research reveals it can prevent pregnancy, although less effectively, up to 120 hours after unprotected sex. It is designed to be taken as soon as possible after sex – within 12 hours provides the highest chance of preventing pregnancy. As we discussed above, women take it when they have had unprotected sex or when birth control fails for any reason. Please ask your pharmacist or doctor about specific questions you may have.įirst, we will look at when you might consider taking the morning-after pill.

We will offer only general guidelines here. Since guidance from a healthcare provider is not required either, it is common for women to have unanswered questions about when to take the morning-after pill and when not to take it. The morning-after pill is available at drug stores without age restriction, identification, or a prescription. When To Take the Morning-After Pill and When Not To This is the least common way the morning-after pill works. If fertilization has already occurred, it is possible that the morning-after pill can prevent the fertilized egg from implanting in the uterine lining. It can prevent a fertilized egg from implanting in the uterus. It can prevent an egg from becoming fertilized.Īnother way the morning-after pill works is by changing the movement of the released egg or sperm, which can prevent fertilization.ģ. The main way the morning-after pill works is by preventing ovulation, an egg from releasing from the ovary.Ģ. It is when your ovary releases a mature egg. Ovulation occurs each month around the middle of your menstrual cycle. The morning-after pill won’t cause an abortion once a fertilized egg has already implanted into the uterus.Īccording to Mayo Clinic, the morning-after pill works in one of three ways: The abortion pill is used after a confirmed pregnancy has already occurred, but the morning-after pill prevents pregnancy from happening. The morning-after pill is different from the abortion pill. A woman might take it right after having had unprotected sex, missing multiple doses of birth control pills, or experiencing failed birth control such as a condom breaking. The morning-after pill is a high dose of the progestin hormone (levonorgestrel) that a woman can take to try to prevent pregnancy. How does the morning-after pill work? Is it different from the abortion pill? What are the possible side effects? How do I know when to take the morning-after pill and when not to? These are common questions women ask, and you deserve accurate answers, which you will find here.

You have heard about the morning-after pill, but you feel that you need more information before you consider taking it.

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