When is the right time to take an emergency contraceptive pill (morning after pill)?

When should you consume an oral contraceptive pill -- right after you have unprotected sex or anytime within 72 hours? Read this to clear the doubt.

By: Debjani Arora | | Published: March 14, 2016 6:48 pm

Tags: Emergency contraceptive Unwanted pregnancies

An accident is inevitable. A condom tear, missing your course of contraceptive anything can lead to a session of unprotected sex. But if you want to avoid an unwanted pregnancy it is ideal you pop a morning after pill or emergency contraceptive pill to avert a pregnancy. However, don’t delay it for too long. Remember, the thumb rule with emergency contraceptives is the sooner you take it, the better. After an episode of unprotected sex, the sperm can stay in your system from 72 hours to up to five days. So, the most morning after pills suggests that it can be taken within five days from the time you had unprotected sex.

The sooner you take your pill, the lesser your chance of getting pregnant after unprotected sex. In case, if you had sex without protection while you were ovulating (you will know if you kept track of your fertile period) it is wise to take the emergency contraceptive immediately after the act. However, if you have already ovulated the emergency contraceptive will be of no use [1]. The emergency contraceptive works by inhibiting ovulation, i.e., by stopping the egg from releasing from the ovary so that it doesn’t meet the sperm.

If you are in your fertile period, the best option would be to ask your partner to take precaution. Else, take the pill right after the act. An observational study done in the year 2001 showed that the pregnancy rate was 0.8 percent for women who took an emergency contraceptive within 72 hours of intercourse, whereas women who took the pill after 72 hours increased by 1.8 percent. It was also noticed that the effectiveness of the pills decreased as one delayed taking the pill. For women who took the pill within 72 hours of intercourse, the efficacy rate was 87 to 90 percent while for those who took it beyond 72 hours (but within five days) dipped to 72 to 87 percent [2].

So, if you are in your fertile period and had unprotected sex, it is better to consult a doctor and decide your next course of action.

Reference

1: Noé G, Croxatto HB, Salvatierra AM, Reyes V, Villarroel C, Muñoz C, Morales G,Retamales A. Contraceptive efficacy of emergency contraception with levonorgestrel given before or after ovulation. Contraception. 2010 May;81(5):414-20. doi: 10.1016/j.contraception.2009.12.015. Epub 2010 Jan 27.PubMed PMID: 20399948.

1: Rodrigues I, Grou F, Joly J. Effectiveness of emergency contraceptive pills between 72 and 120 hours after unprotected sexual intercourse. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2001 Mar;184(4):531-7. PubMed PMID: 11262449.

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Published : March 14, 2016 6:48 pm

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