An emergency contraceptive pill, also known as the morning after pill, is available to women who have had unprotected intercourse. This pill can prevent a woman from becoming pregnant.
Function
The morning after pill should not be used in place of other methods of birth control. It is available to women who did not have proper birth control while having intercourse. The morning after pill is very effective at preventing pregnancy by trapping the egg in the ovary, or blocking the sperm from fertilizing the egg.
Types
There are two types of emergency contraception in pill form: Plan B is a medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use only as a morning after pill. It contains high doses of the hormone levonorgestrel, a progestin. The second type of emergency contraception involves taking regular birth control pills in high doses, but individuals should consult a physician first.
Time Frame
The best time to take the morning after pill is as soon as possible after unprotected intercourse. Still, emergency contraceptive pills may be effective up to five days after intercourse.
Effects
Some women experience nausea and vomiting after taking Plan B. Other side effects include headache and fatigue.
Warning
Emergency contraceptive pills do not protect an individual from sexually transmitted infections, and will not work in a woman who is already pregnant. Also, the morning after pill should not be used as a long term replacement of regular birth control.
