The morning after pill is a form of emergency contraception.
Emergency contraception is contraception that is taken after sex, rather than prior to it.
The morning after pill prevents ovulation or fertilisation of an egg, depending on the type of pill taken.
It can prevent the ovaries from releasing an egg, thus meaning the egg cannot be fertilised, if it has not already.
Alternatively, other forms of the pill line the womb so the fertilised egg can't embed itself within it.
If pregnancy has not occurred yet, then either of these actions should prevent it form taking place.
It is possible a woman is already pregnant before the pill has taken effect though, and this therefore means it is too late.
This form of contraception is only recommended in an emergency - it should not be used regularly.
It must be taken within 72 hours of intercourse, but the sooner it is taken the better.
It is recommended to be taken within 12 hours, as the earlier it is taken the more likely it is to be effective.
It is on average 75% effective, one of the many reasons why it should not be relied upon as the main method of contraception.
Other methods such as condoms and the contraceptive pill (taken before intercourse) are over 98% effective.
So when is the use of the morning after pill most common? Rape victims are one of the best examples.
It is obviously something that you can't anticipate, and obviously not a way someone would like to become pregnant.
Bringing up a child born under these circumstances would likely bring up many bad memories for the Mother.
No contraception is a hundred per cent effective, so it is possible precautions taken have not worked.
With most methods you will not know that it has not been successful, but if a condom has split during sex, for example, the morning after pill may be used.
Those who have had sex without thinking about the consequences may also choose this option.
As with almost all drugs there can be some side effects.
Depending on the type of pill taken, somewhere between fifteen and fifty per cent experience nausea, while between one and nineteen per cent suffer from vomiting.
Women may also experience abdominal pain, fatigue, headaches, dizziness or breast tenderness.
These effects will usually dissipate with a day or so.
It is also possible the menstrual cycle with the disrupted temporarily.
Permanent or serious side effects are very rare.
Some anti-abortion activists are against the morning after pill, as they claim its use basically causes an abortion.
However, this is not generally supported as the woman who takes the pill is not yet pregnancy.
If she was, then the pill would not work.
There are several places where women can get the morning after pill from should they need it.
These include their local GP, family planning clinics, genitourinary clinics, and pharmacies.
Anne Heywood ©
Emergency contraception is contraception that is taken after sex, rather than prior to it.
The morning after pill prevents ovulation or fertilisation of an egg, depending on the type of pill taken.
It can prevent the ovaries from releasing an egg, thus meaning the egg cannot be fertilised, if it has not already.
Alternatively, other forms of the pill line the womb so the fertilised egg can't embed itself within it.
If pregnancy has not occurred yet, then either of these actions should prevent it form taking place.
It is possible a woman is already pregnant before the pill has taken effect though, and this therefore means it is too late.
This form of contraception is only recommended in an emergency - it should not be used regularly.
It must be taken within 72 hours of intercourse, but the sooner it is taken the better.
It is recommended to be taken within 12 hours, as the earlier it is taken the more likely it is to be effective.
It is on average 75% effective, one of the many reasons why it should not be relied upon as the main method of contraception.
Other methods such as condoms and the contraceptive pill (taken before intercourse) are over 98% effective.
So when is the use of the morning after pill most common? Rape victims are one of the best examples.
It is obviously something that you can't anticipate, and obviously not a way someone would like to become pregnant.
Bringing up a child born under these circumstances would likely bring up many bad memories for the Mother.
No contraception is a hundred per cent effective, so it is possible precautions taken have not worked.
With most methods you will not know that it has not been successful, but if a condom has split during sex, for example, the morning after pill may be used.
Those who have had sex without thinking about the consequences may also choose this option.
As with almost all drugs there can be some side effects.
Depending on the type of pill taken, somewhere between fifteen and fifty per cent experience nausea, while between one and nineteen per cent suffer from vomiting.
Women may also experience abdominal pain, fatigue, headaches, dizziness or breast tenderness.
These effects will usually dissipate with a day or so.
It is also possible the menstrual cycle with the disrupted temporarily.
Permanent or serious side effects are very rare.
Some anti-abortion activists are against the morning after pill, as they claim its use basically causes an abortion.
However, this is not generally supported as the woman who takes the pill is not yet pregnancy.
If she was, then the pill would not work.
There are several places where women can get the morning after pill from should they need it.
These include their local GP, family planning clinics, genitourinary clinics, and pharmacies.
Anne Heywood ©
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