Morning-After+Pill

**Jill Knuth** ** The Morning-After Pill ** **Definition** The morning-after pill is an emergency contraception in the form of a pill that is an effective way to prevent pregnancy after u nprotected intercourse (Planned Parenthood). Although the miss-leading name leads you to believe it can only be taken the morning after, this emergency contraception pill can actually be taken, depending on the brand, up to 107-120 hours (or 4-5 days) after unprotected sex. (Wikipedia, 2011)

People may be interested in taking the morning-after pill after the following incidents:  (Planned Parenthood)
 *  The condom broke or slipped off
 * There was no condom used and your partner ejaculated in the vagina
 * You forgot to take other forms of birth control (take the pill, apply the patch, insert the ring, etc.)
 * Your diaphragm or cap slipped out of place
 * You used a diaphragm without spermicide
 * Your IUD was expelled
 * He didn’t pull out in time
 * No other birth control methods were used
 * You were forced into the unprotected vaginal sex

** How does it work? ** <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; line-height: 200%;">Emergency contraception is made up of progestin, which is one of the hormones found in birth control pills. The hormone is the morning-after pill is a large dose of progestin, estrogens, or both which works by keeping a woman’s ovaries from releasing eggs, also known as ovulation (Wikipedia, 2011). Pregnancy cannot occur if there is no egg. It also works by thickening a woman’s cervical mucus, which blocks sperm from joining with the egg. In addition, the hormone thins the lining of the uterus, which could prevent keeping a fertilized egg from attaching to the uterus, which, in theory, would prevent pregnancy. (Planned Parenthood)

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; line-height: 200%;">***Please Note**: The morning-after pill does **NOT** cause abortion. There are such pills that cause abortion but the morning-after pill is an emergency contraception, which is a form of birth control, not abortion. (Planned Parenthood)

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%; line-height: 200%;">**Effectiveness** <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; line-height: 200%;">Although the morning-after pill can be taken up to five days after unprotected sex (depending on the brand), its effectiveness decreases as time passes. Taking the morning-after pill as soon as possible is the best way to ensure its effectiveness. The morning-after pill is a one-time use. It is not effective in the same sense of birth control pills and is not intended to take regularly. It also does not prevent against sexually transmitted diseases/infections (STDs/STIs). (Planned Parenthood)

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; line-height: 200%;">** Availability ** <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; line-height: 200%;">The morning-after pill is available at drug stores and health centers without a prescription for men and women over the age of 17 years old. If younger than 17, you must obtain a prescription from your physician. An ID will be required to show of age unless in the case of a prescription. Emergency contraception can cost anywhere from $10-$70. Family planning clinics usually charge less than drugstores and private health care clinics. (Planned Parenthood)

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; line-height: 200%;">** Safety ** <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; line-height: 200%;">The morning-after pill is a safe, effective form of emergency contraception. Millions of women have used this pill for more than 30 years and no serious health problems or death have been reported. Medical experts agree that there are no situations in which the risks outweigh the benefits of the taking the morning-after pill. Some physicians may suggest using progestin-only pills, which examples include: Plan B and Next Choice. The only time the morning-after pill is not suggested to take is if you know you are already pregnancy. The pill will not work and may increase risks of infection (if already pregnant). (Princeton, 2011)

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; line-height: 200%;">** Side Effects ** <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; line-height: 200%;">Since the morning-after pill is not intended to take regularly, it does include side effects. The most common of these side effects include nausea and vomiting, however less than 25% of women feel sick when taking the pill. Taken with a full stomach may prevent any side effects (Planned Parenthood). Some other side effects include: <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; line-height: 200%;"> (Wikipedia, 2011)
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Breast tenderness
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; line-height: 26px;">Irregular vaginal bleeding
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; line-height: 26px;">Abdominal Pain
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; line-height: 26px;">Fatigue
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; line-height: 26px;">Dizziness
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; line-height: 26px;">Headaches

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%; line-height: 200%;">**Types** <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; line-height: 200%;">There are two most common forms of the morning-after pill, Preven and Plan B.


 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">**Preven** is the brand name, however its equivalent generic is referred to as ethinyl estradoil and levonorgestrel. Ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel are forms of estrogen and progesterone, which is found in birth control pills. They prevent ovulation, disrupt fertilization, and inhibit implantation as [[image:cmn_368_-_preven.jpg width="184" height="146" align="left" caption="Image of Preven Emergency Contraceptive Kit"]]described. When taking ethinyl estradoiland levonorgestrel, the first pill is taken as soon as possible after unprotected sex, and taking the second pill 12 hours later. It is very important to take the pills at the appropriate time as effectiveness decreases if instructions are not followed. Avoiding smoking is suggested while taking the emergency contraception form of ethinyl estradoil and levonorgestrel as it may increase risk of heart attack, stroke, or blood clot. (Preven, 2006)

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">


 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">**Plan B** is the other common form of emergency contraception. It is a pill that must be taken 72 hours (3 days)after the unprotected sex. Plan B is composed of one progestin-only tablet. Plan B is one pill, one step and is the only emergency contraception in this form. It prevents ovulation, prevents fertilization by altering tubal transport of sperm and/or egg, and alters the endometrium. 95% of Plan B users received their period at its expected time +/- 7 days. (Plan B)

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; line-height: 200%;">If you take birth control regularly yet failed to do so in this circumstance, you may use your birth control pills as a form of emergency contraception. Please go to [] to find your brand of birth control to take the appropriate dose. (Planned Parenthood)

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; line-height: 200%;">** History ** <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; line-height: 200%;">Before any emergency contraception were possible, doctors would prescribe large doses of females hormones that had the same effect of what the FDA-approved regimen does now. In 1960 was the first ever hormonally induced emergency contraception, which was used in the case of sexual assault to prevent pregnancy. In 1974, Albert Yuzpe published early studies of the hormonally based emergency contraception, which was approved by 5 countries, <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> the U.S. Finally in 1997 the FDA ap

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; line-height: 200%;">** References ** <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 2pt;">(2006, June 28). //Preven EC.// Retrieved from http://www.drugs.com/mtm/preven-ec.html <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 2pt;">(2011, February 22). //Answers to Asking Questions About//. Retrieved from http://ec.princeton.edu/questions/ecsafe.html <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 2pt;">(2011, April 1). //Emergency Contraception//. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergency_contraception <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 2pt;">Jie, Ma Wen. //Morning After Pill History//. Retrieved from http://www.ehow.com/about_5247353_morning-after-pill-history.html <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 2pt;">Retrieved from http://beeveedee.wordpress.com/2008/10/01/this-is-all-just-a-big-misunderstanding/ <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 2pt;">Retrieved from http://www.drug3k.com/imagepages/18048/image4.html <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 2pt;">// The Morning-After Pill - Emergency Contraception // Retrieved from http://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-topics/emergency-contraception-morning-after-pill-4363.asp <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 2pt;">// What Plan B One Step Is //. Retrieved from http://www.planbonestep.com/plan-b-pharmacists/plan- b-contraceptive.aspx