The Morning-After Pill: Questions & Answers
The morning-after pill is a form of birth control designed to protect women from conception after having unprotected sex. Because sperm must be able to travel through the fallopian tubes in order for a women to conceive, the morning-after pill can destroy the sperm before it reaches an egg, which prevents pregnancy.
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What Is It Made Of?
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Morning-after pills contain higher doses of hormones than are present in birth control pills. Some morning-after pills contain only one hormone, levonorgestrel (such as Plan B, Plan B One-Step), and others contain two---progestin and estrogen.
How Does It Work?
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Morning-after pills containing estrogen prevent the ovaries from releasing eggs. In contrast, progestin prevents the sperm from reaching the egg or the fertilized egg from attaching to the uterine wall.
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When Should It Be Taken?
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Most forms of the morning-after pill must be taken within 72 hours of having unprotected sex. A second dose may be recommended at least 12 hours after the first.
What Are the Side Effects?
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Morning-after pills often have side effects similar to the side effects of birth control pills, although the symptoms may be more pronounced. These include nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramping and dizziness.
What Are the Most Common Forms?
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The two most common morning-after pills are Preven and Plan B.
How Can I Obtain a Morning-After Pill?
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Methods for obtaining a morning-after pill depend on a person's age. For women ages 17 and older, the morning-after pill is available at most pharmacies. For those ages 16 and under, the morning-after pill can only be obtained via a doctor's prescription.
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