Emergency contraception

8 Things Women Should Know Before Taking Emergency Contraception

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You can get the pills from your local pharmacist without a prescription. However, ella is one ECP that still does require a prescription, which means you may need a doctor visit.

You should call ahead to the pharmacy to make sure they have ECPs in stock before you go. Some ECPs are available for purchase online if you want to buy it ahead of time to keep on hand for emergency use but take care in ordering from a reputable pharmacy.

8 Things To Know Before Taking Emergency Contraception

• Call your regular doctor or nurse practitioner, local family planning clinic, student health center or urgent care center to find out if they provide emergency birth control pills.

• Call your local health department. There are state-appointed clinics that can provide family planning assistance at low to no cost.

• Contact a Family Planning Center. Clinics such as Planned Parenthood provide confidential care and services to young women and teens.

4) When should I take the ECP?

  The medication should be taken within 72 hours (three days) of having unprotected sex and according to dispensing instructions. Emergency contraception can even be taken up to five days after unprotected sex, but works best within the recommended 72 hours.

5) What are the side effects?

Unfortunately, there are quite a few possible side effects when taking this medication. Some side effects are, but not limited to:

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Lower stomach cramps

• Irregular bleeding

• Fatigue

• Headache

• Dizziness

• Breast tenderness

6) Do I need to see a health care professional after I take it?

  You do not need to see the your doctor or gynecologist after you take the ECP unless you are worried about being pregnant or haven’t gotten your period in two to four weeks.

If you’ve thrown up after taking the pill, call your doctor or pharmacist. Your menstrual cycle will be irregular and unpredictable anywhere from two to three cycles, so keep that in mind.

7) Will it affect my chances of getting pregnant in the future?

No. It is very important that you understand that ECPs are not to be used as a regular form of birth control. If used in a true emergency, the ECPs will not affect your chances of conceiving in the future when a pregnancy is desirable. However, experts suggest that if used frequently, your periods will continue to be irregular.

8) How do I get more information about birth control and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)?

ECPs should not be used as a regular form of birth control and do not prevent STDs.

• You can talk with your doctor or gynecologist about ECPs, birth control methods and STDs.

• You can log on to WomensHealth.gov.

Deciding to have sexual intercourse is a big decision; one that shouldn’t be taken lightly or feel pressured into. Every time you have sex, you are in essence taking a risk of getting pregnant or contracting a sexually transmitted disease.

Be sure that you are being responsible and informed about all the risks associated with sexual intercourse before you make your decision to be sexually active.

Morning-after pill ‘fails in obese’

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MorningA French pharmaceutical company has warned a morning-after contraceptive pill may be ineffective in heavier women, following a Scottish study.

Norlevo, made by HRA Pharma, was less effective in women over 11st 3lb (75kg) and ineffective in women over 12st 8lb (80kg), the study suggested.

The US is reviewing guidance as the active ingredient in Norlevo is used in other brands of morning-after pill.

It is thought the drug is absorbed by fat, lowering the dose in the blood.

The study by the University of Edinburgh in 2011 investigated Norlevo’s active ingredient, levonorgestrel.

It indicated obese women taking the emergency contraceptive were four times more likely to become pregnant than women taking the drug who were a normal weight.

The report’s authors recommended other emergency contraceptives were used in overweight and obese women, such as devices that could be implanted into the womb.

Frederique Welgryn, HRA Pharma’s head of women’s health, said the results were “surprising” and had led to “a lot of discussions” about the effectiveness of levonorgestrel.

The labelling on Norlevo is expected to be changed in 2014.

The development has raised concerns about other morning-after pills.

The US regulator, the Food and Drug Administration, said it was “currently reviewing the available and related scientific information on this issue”.-after pill ‘fails in obese’.

US drops bid to block sales of morning-after pill.

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The US administration says it will no longer seek to block over-the-counter sales of emergency contraception to women and girls of all ages.

This means that anyone will soon be able to buy the Plan B morning-after pill without a prescription.

The justice department had fought against a federal judge‘s order seeking to lift current age and sales limits.

The move is seen as a breakthrough in the 12-year battle to make emergency contraception universally available.

Under current laws, only girls aged 15 and older can purchase the morning-after pill without a prescription.

However in April, US district judge Edward Korman ruled that the drug should be made available over-the-counter and without age restrictions.

Plaintiffs in a federal lawsuit against the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said the limit unfairly kept women and girls from accessing the drug, which is most effective when taken within 72 hours of intercourse.

US government lawyers had appealed against Judge Korman’s ruling, arguing that he had exceeded his authority.

But the justice department has now confirmed that the FDA will drop its appeal and prepare a plan to comply with the ruling.

In 2011, the FDA concluded that the morning-after pill could be safely used by girls of child-bearing age and should be unrestricted.

But US Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius over-ruled the agency, barring girls under 17 from buying the pills without a prescription.

Judge Korman called that rule “politically motivated, scientifically unjustified and contrary to agency precedent”.

The FDA dropped this age limit to 15 in April this year.

Source: BBC