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Safer
Sex and Contraception -
Emergency Contraception
Don't
panic. If you've forgotten your pill, or the condom broke,
there is something you can do to prevent becoming pregnant.
Contact your doctor or Family Planning Victoria as soon
as
possible (within 120 hours but the earlier the better).
The
'morning after' pill was renamed 'emergency contraception'
because many people thought that you
could only take it the 'morning after' unprotected sex. In
fact, you have up to 120
hours but the sooner you take it, the more effective it is
and preferably within 72 hours.
What
is Emergency Contraception?
You
are at risk of becoming pregnant if you have
- Forgotten
to take the pill
- Used
the withdrawal method
- The
condom broke or slipped
- You
just got caught up in the heat of the moment and did
not
use contraception
- Or
had unprotected sexual intercourse for any other reason.
The
emergency contraceptive pill is a dose of hormone made up
of the combined pills (containing oestrogen and progesterone)
or mini-pills (containing progesterone only. The dose is larger
than is normally taken with a daily pill.
The
emergency contraceptive pill must be taken within 120 hours
of unprotected intercourse.
How
Does It Work?
- By
delaying/preventing ovulation
- Preventing
a fertilised egg from implanting in the uterine wall
- Interrupting
the production of hormones needed for pregnancy to continue.
How
Effective Is It?
It
will prevent 75%-88% of pregnancies that would otherwise have
occurred.
Side
Effects:
- One
third of women will experience some nausea (anti-nausea
tablets can be taken and there is usually less nausea with
the progesterone-only pill)
- Vomiting
may occur. If it does happen within 2 hours of taking either
dose, and identical dose of pills should be taken (see your
doctor)
- Spotting
or bleeding can occur 3 to 7 days after treatment
- Periods
may be delayed
- While
there is no evidence that emergency contraception will harm
a continuing pregnancy (in those 25% of cases where it fails
to prevent a pregnancy) however there are no guarantees.
What
Happens Afterwards?
You
should discuss contraception with your doctor or Family Planning
Victoria. The combined or mini-pill can be started immediately
after emergency contraception.
You
should visit your doctor one month after treatment to check
that:
- The
treatment was successful and that you are not pregnant
- You
have not caught a sexually transmitted infection.
Page
maintained by:FPV Webmaster
Last updated:24/01/2006
© Family Planning Victoria
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