Morning-after pill: 10 quick facts you should know about this contraceptive - Pavitra Sampath

Both of you were too drunk, and decided to enjoy a night of steamy passion without using a condom. The next morning, you woke up with a heavy head and an ‘oops! I did it again’ feeling. Worry not? You might still avoid the chances of an unwanted pregnancy. There are pills that you can take the morning after having sex. An emergency contraceptive, popularly known as the morning-after pill, is a drug taken by women, right after they have had unprotected sex. The pill is packed with a high dose of synthetic hormones that interferes with the fertilisation process. Here are 10 facts you should know about the morning-after pill: 1. An emergency contraceptive contains progestin levonorgestrel, which are synthetic hormones, like ones used in contraceptive pills. 2. The pill is supposed to be taken within 72 hours of having unprotected sex. Doctors say the earlier, the better. 3. It acts either by preventing or delaying ovulation, preventing fertilisation or by preventing the implantation of the fertilised egg by altering the structure of the uterine wall. 4. The pill does not cause an abortion, so taking it after you are pregnant will not terminate a pregnancy. 5. It does not protect a woman from STDs like HIV/AIDS, gonorrhoea, Herpes, etc. 6. It is not a substitute for conventional contraceptive pills. This is because the pill contains a very high amount of synthetic hormones, which can cause a number of complications if used continuously. In contrast, contraceptive pills have a low dose of hormones that help to alter the ovulation cycle and prevent pregnancy. 7. After taking the pill, a person might experience some common side effects like nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, changes in your menstrual cycle, dizziness and breast tenderness. 8. According to gynaecologists, the pill should only be the last resort when it comes to contraception because it wreaks havoc with a woman’s hormones. Young girls whose hormone levels have not yet stabilised tend to be at a greater risk of developing conditions such as PCOD, endometriosis and have a greater risk of developing ectopic pregnancies. 9.If you do take the morning after pill, it is important for you to get a regular check-up from your gynaecologist to eliminate the possibility of any further complications. 10. Lastly, the pill is only effective if taken after having unprotected sex. It will not work if you have sex after you have had the pill. For that, you need to take birth control pills.