YGO Health
When you need Emergency Contraception?
Posted on June 18, 2008 in Health by UHC
Emergency contraception is not the substitute for
regular birth control pills but to avoid immediate risk of pregnancy due to
contraception failure
Emergency contraception (EC) is not the substitute for
regular birth control methods or abortion but, in fact, is the “emergency?
option for women to avoid pregnancy after contraception failure, sexual assault
or unprotected intercourse. Emergency contraception, specially Progestin-only
birth control pills like Plan B, are advised to women seeking immediate action
to avoid pregnancy. Such pills are advised to rape victims and sexually
assaulted women as well.
Emergency contraception pills are also known as
“morning-after?, “EC? or “Postcoital Contraception? in medical terms. However,
“morning-after? doesn’t mean that emergency contraception pills to be taken in
the morning. It should be taken as prescribed.
Types of emergency contraception methods
:
These are available in broadly three ways whereas two
methods are in pill form and another is device known as intrauterine device.
Two types of pills are progestin-only like Plan B and usual combined birth
control pills (progestin and estrogen). Intrauterine device is also used as
emergency contraception and suggested to women who are allergic to progestin or
estrogen based pills. IUD as widely called is small, T shaped plastic device
with a string attached to the end. It is inserted through cervix and placed in
the uterus to prevent pregnancy. A small string hangs down from IUD into the
upper part of the vagina.
How Emergency contraception pills work?
Like other birth control pills, EC works by stopping
ovulation (i.e release of eggs) and preventing sperm to meet with eggs for
fertilization, hence there is no pregnancy.
When to take Emergency contraception?
EC must be taken as soon as the unprotected intercourse has
occurred. Progestin-only pills like Plan B contraceptive pills are available in
two tablets. One pill must be taken immediately followed by next with 12 hours
apart. Though EC pills can be taken upto 5 days i.e 120 hours, however,
Progestin-only pills like Plan B are effective for upto 3 days i.e 72 hours.
Its effectiveness after unprotected sex can be judged as
below.
- 95% effective if taken within 24 hours
- 85% effective if taken between 24 to 48 hours
- 58% effective between 49 to 72 hours
In case, more than 72 hours have passed of unprotected sex then it is highly
recommended to use the IUD (intrauterine device) after consulting with your
physician because after 72 hours, your contraceptive pills might be failed.
Who should seek Emergency contraception help :
Well, it is designed for emergency relief from getting
pregnant. Women can take EC if
- contraception methods are failed like condom is broken or
slipped off during intercourse, ring
protection is removed.
- women think that she had intercourse during “ovulation
days?. These are most crucial days as the chances of becoming pregnant are very
high.
- women are sexually abused, raped or forced to go for
unprotected intercourse.
Being the time sensitive, two important factors will
determine the effectiveness of emergency contraception success and those are
- how soon woman takes it after the unprotected intercourse
has occurred.
- if she has another unprotected intercourse in the same
menstrual cycle.
The above article is for general information on emergency
contraception requirements and should not be taken as medical advice. If it is
so, please consult your doctor or physician for treatment purpose.
You may also visit at ,
please consult your doctor or healthcare professional for treatment purpose.
About the author
articles and ebooks written on women’s health, birth control, pregnancy issues
and human relationship specially romance, dating, marriage.divorce. She is also
associated with birth control
pills and Plan B birth control. She gives helpful advices to her clients on
birth control and oral contraceptive methods.
Tags: birth control, birth control methods, birth control pills, cervix, contraception, contraception methods, contraceptive pills, emergency contraception pills, emergency option, estrogen, fertilization, intrauterine device, medical terms, ovulation, plan b, progestin only birth control pills, sexual assault, three ways, unprotected intercourse, uterus
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