How to Take the Morning-After Pill

The morning-after pill is an emergency contraceptive that prevents pregnancy following unprotected intercourse. The morning-after pill is about 80 percent effective in preventing pregnancy and has few side effects, none of which are life-threatening. The morning-after pill is most commonly used by couples whose contraceptive device fails during intercourse, although the medication also helps many female victims of sexual assault. Read on to learn how to take the morning-after pill.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. See a doctor or medical professional to determine whether you are a candidate for the morning-after pill. If you are 18 years old and cannot see a doctor, you can get emergency contraception from a pharmacist.
2. Take the morning-after pill as directed. Patients receive two doses of the pill, the first of which must be taken within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse. The second dose is taken 12 hours later. Although you can wait for 72 hours to take the first pill, it is most effective within the first 24 hours after intercourse.
3. Use back-up contraception, such as condoms, until your next menstrual period. Taking the morning-after pill can affect the timing of your menstrual cycle, although most women start menstruating just over a week after treatment. If you do not begin menstruating within 21 days of taking the morning-after pill, take a pregnancy test.
4. Swallow the morning-after pill with food to reduce nausea. About 50 percent of women who take the medication experience nausea and many also vomit. If you do vomit after taking the pill, it is not necessary to repeat the dose as the side effect indicates release of the medication into the bloodstream.
5. Understand that the morning-after pill is not intended as a routine form of birth control, but is prescribed as an emergency measure. Although taking the morning-after pill does not pose significant health risks, it's not as effective in preventing pregnancy as other forms of contraception such as the birth control pill.

Tips & Warnings

• Before prescribing the morning-after pill, your health care provider will conduct a pregnancy test. If you are pregnant, the morning-after pill may not successfully terminate the pregnancy and the doctor may wish to discuss alternatives.
• There is no evidence that the morning-after pill causes birth defects in babies born to women who took the medication during pregnancy. In addition, the morning-after pill does not adversely affect fertility.
• Common side effects of the morning-after pill include breast tenderness, headache, nausea, dizziness and abdominal pain. Side effects should resolve shortly after completion of the medication's course. If adverse symptoms persist, contact a medical professional.