How many morning after pills can I take?

We call any method, drug or device that prevents pregnancy from being contraceptive. Currently, there is a wide range of options, so that each person can choose the one that best suits their personal needs and preferences. Among the aspects to be evaluated when selecting the most appropriate one, the desire to have children in the future or if there is a need to protect against Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) should be considered, something that will be necessary if it is not has a stable partner.

Assessing which contraceptive method to use is important, since it is a decision with direct repercussions on one's own health. In this sense, health professionals are of great help to consult all the doubts that may arise, since this way they will be able to inform you about issues such as the effectiveness of each option, the existence of possible side effects or the adjustment that each alternative may have. to your lifestyle, among many other things.

Although there is no perfect birth control method, using them dramatically reduces the chance of having an unwanted pregnancy. However, even the most effective means can have room for error and fail. In addition, forgetfulness and accidents exist (you can forget to take your pill, the condom can break ...). For all this, there are times when it is necessary to resort to so-called emergency contraception.

What are emergency contraception methods?

These types of methods are intended to be used after intercourse, when unprotected sexual intercourse has been had or the method used has failed.. Within this category, there are two alternatives: the intrauterine device (IUD) and the emergency contraceptive pill (ECP), popularly known as "the morning after pill". The latter is the most widely used of the two, although there are still many doubts about its operation.

Contrary to what many people believe, ECP is not an abortifacient method, as it does not end an already implanted pregnancy. Instead, it works by delaying or preventing ovulation, thus preventing pregnancy from ever occurring. Once the spermatozoa are already in the woman's body, avoiding ovulation is the only option that prevents the encounter between sperm and ovum, minimizing the possibility of fertilization.

One of the most frequent doubts among women has to do with the number of times this contraceptive method can be used, since as its name indicates, it is not an option that allows preventing pregnancy on a regular basis. If you want to know the answer to this question and know everything you need about this emergency contraceptive method, keep reading.

What is the emergency contraceptive pill (ECP)?

First of all, it is important to delve into what exactly ECP is, better known as the morning after pill (a name which, by the way, is inaccurate, although this will be clarified below). ECP is a contraceptive method, which allows to prevent pregnancy once the woman has already had unprotected sexual intercourse, or when the contraceptive method that has been used has failed.

Since it is an emergency method, should only be used as a backup contraceptive, on occasions when there is no alternative. For this reason, the existence of ECP does not exempt you from having to use regular contraceptives when having sex (Remember that you must choose the most appropriate one for your needs, since not all act the same and only the condom will protect you from STDs).

This tablet contains levonorgestrel or ulipristal acetate, which help prevent pregnancy. Something that is often unknown (part of the blame lies with its confusing name) is that this method can not only be used the day after having had sexual intercourse. Technically, you have up to 120 hours (5 days) to do it. However, you should bear in mind that the effectiveness will be greater the sooner you take it. If you do it on the first day, its effectiveness is 95%, but if you delay taking it after 72 hours, the effectiveness may be reduced.

As we have already advanced, ECP is not an abortifacient method, as it works by preventing pregnancy from occurring. To achieve this, it acts by delaying ovulation, blocking the luteinizing hormone (LH), which is in charge of giving the order to start ovulation in our nervous system. Inhibiting this process makes it possible to prevent the sperm from fertilizing the egg and, therefore, the pregnancy to occur. For all these reasons, taking ECP is meaningless if you are already pregnant, and for this reason its consumption is discouraged when more than 120 hours have passed since unprotected sexual intercourse.

It should be noted that this tablet can be purchased in pharmacies without a prescription, so it is not necessary to go to the doctor beforehand. In addition, the professional who attends you will be able to advise and guide you so that you use it correctly and will clear all your doubts.

How to use the morning-after pill: how many can I take?

There are some important points to keep in mind to properly use this emergency contraceptive method. Always read the pill's leaflet, as there may be slight variations depending on its brand and composition. Remember that the ideal is to use it within the first 72 hours after unprotected sexual intercourse, as this will achieve maximum effectiveness.

ECP can cause various side effects, such as headache, dizziness, nausea, cramps in the lower abdomen, etc. If you vomit within two hours of taking the pill, you should check with your doctor if you need to take another dose, as the effectiveness may be reduced.

Do not have sex again without using regular contraception. The ECP will not protect you against pregnancy in a lasting way, it only prevents a possible pregnancy derived from the sexual relationship that you had from happening. In other words, if you have unprotected sex in the days and weeks after taking ECP, you are at risk of getting pregnant. Therefore, it is essential that you resume using your regular contraceptive.

Using ECPs could delay your period for up to a week. If more than 3-4 weeks have passed and your period has not arrived, take a pregnancy test and consult your doctor. Generally, it is not essential that you contact your doctor after using the ECP. However, if an irregularity happens, do not hesitate to notify it so that it can help you. Examples of this may be experiencing a lot of abdominal pain several weeks after taking the pill or having severe and long-lasting bleeding.

These signs may indicate that you have suffered a miscarriage or an ectopic pregnancy (in this case the egg has been fertilized, but has implanted outside the uterus). You must bear in mind that, like any contraceptive method, ECP has a certain margin of error. Even when used correctly, it may not be able to prevent pregnancy. In addition, it does not protect against STDs in any way.

The PAE can come in a one-shot or two-shot format, depending on its composition. In any case, you can use it at any time during your menstrual cycle. However, as we have already mentioned, taking this pill produces alterations in the menstrual cycle, so it is not recommended to use it several times in the same year. Experts consider that the ideal is to resort at most once a year, only when the rest of the contraceptive methods have failed.

You should never use it more than three times a year or more than once during your menstrual cycle.. In conclusion, at least you should allow a month to pass between pill and pill, although it is not at all advisable to abuse it and resort to its use more than once a year. Remember that it is an emergency method, it should never be used as a regular contraceptive. In addition to its alterations on the cycle, taking ECPs frequently reduces its effectiveness significantly.

Other considerations

It is important to keep in mind that ECP is not a method that everyone can use. You must take into account some questions:

• If you're allergic to something, make sure that the pill you are going to take does not contain it.
• If you are taking other medications, consult your doctor to see if they could interfere with the effectiveness of ECP.
• If you are overweight or obese, this pill may be less effective in preventing pregnancy. Again, discuss this question with your doctor to avoid risks.
• As we have already mentioned, ECP is not an abortifacient, but a contraceptive method. Therefore, it is important that if you have any doubts about being pregnant (having had unprotected relationships for more than 5 days), you do not use this pill, since it is unknown how it can affect the developing baby. Similarly, you should avoid its use if you are breastfeeding your baby.

As we see, This method can be of great help in emergency situations, although it is essential to have all the information possible to make correct use of it and avoid risks.