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Emergency contraception is a way to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex. Often referred to as morning-after pill, These pills contain hormones that women can take after sex. What is there to know about emergency contraception and how does it work?

Recognizing the morning-after pill as emergency contraception

The morning-after pill is an emergency contraception (condar) that women need to prevent pregnancy. This is a form of contraception used after sex.

You can use emergency contraception because you forgot to use a condom during sex, the condom broke during sex, you forgot to use the regular birth control method, or you were forced to have sex without a condom.

There are two types of morning-after pills that are most often used as emergency contraception, namely Levonelle and EllaOne. The morning-after pill is not the same as the abortion drug and will not end a pregnancy that has already occurred. These pills can only reduce the risk of pregnancy after sex.

How does emergency contraception work?

Hormones such as Levonorgestrel progesterone are given in high doses to prevent pregnancy. The way contraception works is by delaying ovulation (the release of a woman's egg during a monthly cycle). These pills can also interfere with the fertilization process by preventing the adhesion of the fertilized egg to the uterine wall.

Not only that, this type of contraception can also thicken cervical mucus, so that the sperm that enter the vagina will be trapped and cannot meet the egg.

This type of contraception is most effective when it is taken as soon as possible after intercourse. These pills work best if they are taken for the first 72 hours after unprotected sex.

How effective are emergency contraceptives?

The effectiveness of morning-after pills as emergency contraceptives in preventing pregnancy, depends on which type is used.

The success rate when the pill was taken 72 hours after sexual intercourse was 89% and when it was taken within 24 hours after sexual intercourse was 95%.

It was found that only 1 or 2 out of 100 women will experience pregnancy after taking this type of pill within 72 hours. This effectiveness still applies even if you and your partner have sexual intercourse without using a condom.

Its potency will decrease over time. However, you need to understand that the effectiveness of these pills is not commensurate with the birth control pills that are routinely taken. For that, you should not use this too often. Only use it in an emergency when you have to.

However, emergency contraception does not prevent all pregnancies, a woman should consult her doctor if she does not have her period after taking this pill.

Meanwhile, EllaOne pills contain ulipristal acetate, 85 percent effective when taken less than five days after unprotected intercourse and the effectiveness remains the same throughout that time. If you take it for less than 3 days it will be more effective than levonelle pills.

Therefore, the sooner you take this pill, the more effective it will be. However, you must remember that the effectiveness of emergency contraception is only good when it is used in an emergency. Meanwhile, compared to ordinary birth control pills, its effectiveness is still not commensurate.

So, if you want to use it long term, maybe regular birth control pills are a better alternative.

Types of emergency contraceptive pills

There are several types of pills that are generally consumed, namely:

1. High-dose combination pills

This emergency contraceptive pill contains 0.05 milligrams (mg) of ethinyl-estradiol and 0.25 milligrams of levo-norgestrel. If you wish to use this combination pill, take it at a minimum 2 tablets dose twice a day.

The time to use this contraceptive is three days after sex. The distance between the use of this drug and the next dose is 12 hours.

2. Low-dose combination pills

There are also types morning-after pill which you can take is a pill with a composition of 0.03 milligrams of ethinyl-estradiol and 0.15 milligrams of levo-norgestrel.

For its use, you can use a dose of 2 × 4 tablets. That is, taking 4 tablets in one drink and done twice a day. Take this drug within three days after sexual intercourse. Give a gap of 12 hours between the first dose and the second dose each day.

3. Progestin

Another drug that can also be used as emergency contraception is 1.5 milligrams of levo-norgestrel. You can take one tablet and drink it twice a day.

As with other contraceptive drugs, this drug is used within three days of sexual intercourse. Don't forget to leave the gap between the first dose and the second dose for 12 hours.

Side effects of the emergency contraceptive pill

Many women who take emergency contraceptive pills experience side effects such as nausea, vomiting, breast tenderness, dizziness, head spinning, and fatigue.

Some side effects are usually rare, and most last 1 to 2 days. A woman's menstrual cycle may become irregular after taking emergency contraception.

Emergency contraceptive pills should be used when needed

Source: SELF

Emergency contraception is not recommended as routine consumption. These pills should only be used for emergency purposes.

If a partner is having sex and the condom used then breaks or comes off, or if a woman forgets to take her birth control pills for 2 days in a row, she may consider using this type of pill.

These pills are also available for women who are forced to have unprotected sex (rape). However, it is not recommended for women who find out that they are pregnant.

Keep in mind, this type of pill is not effective in preventing pregnancy, if taken before sex. These contraceptive pills work by delaying ovulation (release of an egg).

If fertilization and implantation have occurred, levonorgestrel will not prevent pregnancy. Meanwhile, ulipristal acetate works by delaying ovulation and can help prevent implantation.

In addition, the effectiveness of these pills is not the same as birth control pills that are routinely taken. Therefore, you should not use these pills too often. Use it in an emergency or just force it.

Also, you need to consult your doctor if you don't have a period after taking the emergency contraceptive pill. This is because these pills do not prevent all pregnancies. In addition, these pills also do not prevent sexually transmitted diseases, so you still need a condom if you are afraid of contracting a sexually transmitted disease.