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Until I needed it myself, I was completely unaware that so many women close to me had used Emergency Contraception or the “morning after pill”. At the time, it was very reassuring to hear my friends’ experiences, and because so many women on the EmpowHER website ask questions regarding EC, I thought I would share my own experience and try to provide some answers to general concerns women have after taking the pill.
My need for EC was the result of a mistake many couples make when using condoms. (Now YOU definitely won’t!) Instead of pulling out after his orgasm, my partner remained inside me and when his erection shrank, the condom fell off. I immediately knew that despite my aversion to unnatural hormones, I had no choice but to use Emergency Contraception. First rule of thumb: when in doubt, just take the pill! It’s much less expensive than an abortion or a baby.
I headed to Walgreens and was quickly helped by a pharmacist who seemed quite used to seeing disheveled young women asking for the drug. Anyone over the age of 17 is now able to acquire EC without a prescription, thanks to the recent work of dedicated women's health activists. The brand of EC I received was called Next Choice, an option that contains 2 doses of Levonorgestrel (a hormone commonly used in birth control pills), to be taken 12 hours apart. Another common brand is the Plan B One-Step, consisting of only one pill.
Sitting in the parking lot, I carefully read all the directions on the Next Step package and swallowed the pill. I knew I was well within the time constraints of the pill’s effectiveness (3 days or 72 hours), but because the earlier you take the drug the more effective it will be, I still felt hurried. All day I awaited side effects like dizziness, nausea, or headache, but none came. 12 hours after my first dose, I took the 2nd pill – still feeling just fine.
2 days after I took the pills, I began to feel some cramping. Although it was not yet time in my cycle, I experienced a very light, 3-day period.* Because early stages of pregnancy can also cause similar symptoms, just in case I also took a pregnancy test to confirm. Negative! Though it took about 2 months until my menstrual cycle was regular again, it was clear that the Next Choice pill had done its job with minimal side effects. Sometimes, drugs truly are miracles.
Please feel free to share your own experience with EC, or ask any questions about mine! If there’s interest, I’d love to provide more details about how the drug works and its common side effects. I also (as always) recommend doing your own research on the pill. Planned Parenthood's website is a great place to start: http://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-topics/emergency-contraception-morning-after-pill-4363.htm
* Important clarification: EC is not the abortion pill. If you are already pregnant, the hormone will not have any effect on a fetus. Instead, Levonorgestrel can prevent ovulation, thicken your vaginal discharge making it less penetrable to sperm, and help shed your uterine lining to prevent implantation of an egg – resulting in the common side effect of a period-like bleeding.
Sources: http://www.mynextchoice.com/Consumer/whatis_Main.asp
Add a Comment182 Comments
Hello,
September 10, 2017 - 10:57pmI had unprotected sex on the 27th of August, I was prescribed Ella by my doctor on the 29th and took it. I've been having some terrible cramps, back pain, and sore breasts. I've had mono and a couple hours after taking Ella I spit up some phelgm, I didn't throw up just spit out some phelgm, would that effect how Ella works? I'm supposed to get my period tomorrow but feeling doubtful that it's going to come. I'm super worried, I'm a college student and can't afford an abortion.
This Comment
Hi, I had unprotected sex exactly 15 days after my periods. That means I have already ovulated, right? And I took POSTINOR after about one hour after having sex. Will that be effective, If I have already ovulated by that time? Will I get pregnant?
July 25, 2017 - 5:45pmThis Comment
Hello Anonymous,
Postinor prevents pregnancy by preventing ovulation.
You won't know if it was effective until you have vaginal bleeding. If you have no bleeding within three weeks of taking the pill, test for pregnancy.
Regards,
July 31, 2017 - 9:27amMaryann
This Comment
Hello my period was 2nd April I had unprotected sex on 8th April. Took an ecp on 9th April. Then experience some bleeding a week after the pill.i took home pregnancy test twice in one month after sex and it's always negative.On 24th may I had my period but it's light last for 7 days. And now it's 30th June I haven't get my period. Am I pregnant ? But I didnt have any intercourse since then.
June 30, 2017 - 8:35amThis Comment
Hello Anonymous,
There would only be a chance that you are pregnant if you had unprotected intercourse since your last period in May.
Maryann
July 5, 2017 - 9:25amThis Comment
Hi,I'm mully I had unprotected sex 5 days latr after my period,and I took p2 as instructed after 2 days I got withdrawal bleeding (last for 5 days) then I again had unprotected sex on 11 March I expected my period on 21 March but didn't came yet..I'm so scared am I pregnant or looking forward to ur answer
May 28, 2017 - 12:28amThis Comment
I have an irregular cycle. My menstruation in March was on the 21st, then in April was on the 10th. Had protected sex from April 21 and April 23 then an unprotected sex last May 5. I took ECP on May 8, did PTs the whole week and all were negative then had bleeding on May 18 with light to heavy dark red/brown blood with clots then the next day the bleeding became lighter with clots, 2 clots came out followed by a pinkish little fleshy meat forming like a C, it's my 3rd day today and very light bleeding. Took PT today and it's negative. What does this mean?
May 19, 2017 - 5:59pmThis Comment
I had unprotected sex 3 days after my period had ended. He did not ejaculate inside me but I was worried about precum so I took plan b 16 hours later. A week after taking it, I had a heavy 2 day period with spotting on the third day. I'm wondering what the chances of me being pregnant are. When should I expect my next period? From the first period? Or the three day period?
May 9, 2017 - 8:52amThis Comment
Hi doctor,
May 6, 2017 - 7:44pmTwo days after my period I had unprotected sex, I took plan B the next day. A few days after I started feeling period cramps. I felt this pain for about three weeks but the day before my expected period all the cramps and PMS went away then my period came but only for 2 days. Should I be worried?
This Comment
Hello Anonymous,
You have no need to worry. Plan B can cause changes in the menstrual cycle, and that is exactly what you have experienced.
Regards,
May 7, 2017 - 2:08pmMaryann
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