In the light of the studies conducted in the last 30 years, emergency contraception; it has been recognized that it is an effective and safe method that gives a second chance to prevent unwanted pregnancy.
What is Emergency Contraception?
Emergency contraception is a contraception method that is applied after an unprotected or unsuccessful sexual intercourse, before the start of pregnancy, that is, before settling into the uterus. For this definition to be valid, pregnancy should not have occurred yet. In other words, a person whose pregnancy test was positive had no chance of emergency contraception.
An important point is the effectiveness of modern prevention methods. For example, if the birth control pill is used correctly, it provides 99.7% successful protection, while the success of the next day pills is 95% for the first 12 hours and 58% for 72 hours. As a result, inadequate success rates in the next day, due to the frequent occurrence of side effects and repeated use, necessitates use only as emergency contraception. It is never a birth control method. It is also not protective against sexually transmitted diseases.
In which situations can emergency contraception be used?
- Unprotected sexual intercourse,
- In case the protection method is inadequate / unsuccessful (In case of failure of protection methods such as condom rupture, birth control pill forgetting, wrong application of withdrawal method)
- Couples may be at risk of pregnancy due to an unplanned sexual intercourse, even if they are conscious and willing to protect. To forget to use the method or not use it correctly can cause the method failure.
Why are the morning after pills used in the first 72 hours?
Clinical studies show that pills prevent an average of 85% of pregnancy. Activity decreases depending on the time elapsed after the relationship. (95% at 24 hours, 85% at 24-48 hours, 58% at 48-72 hours), efficacy after 72 hours is unknown.
The next day the pill is never effective after pregnancy occurs. In other words, there is no miscarriage effect on existing pregnancy.
The next day the pill should not be seen as a continuous contraceptive method. The purpose of emergency contraception is only to eliminate the possibility of accidental pregnancy. Therefore, it should be used only once a month. Because repeated use in a short time, both the effect is reduced and severe side effects can occur.
In addition, emergency contraception is a method that should be applied in certain situations and should be applied in consultation with a doctor.
What are the side effects?
The most common side effects are;
· Nausea and vomiting;
· Abdominal pain;
· Headache, dizziness;
· Weakness;
· Breast sensitivity
· Vaginal bleeding.
Complaints disappear within 48 hours of ingestion.
Vaginal bleeding seen after the use of the pill the next day is a side effect of the drug. Not every woman has the same effect. The absence of bleeding the next day after the use of the pill does not affect the contraceptive effect of the drug. Bleeding is a side effect independent of the drug’s effectiveness.
The effect of the next day pill on pregnancy
If the patient becomes pregnant despite the drug, these drugs have no significant effect on the baby. Studies with high-dose oral contraceptives have shown that short-term use during early pregnancy does not harm the mother and the fetus.
The effect of the next day pill during breastfeeding
Active substances in the drug pass to the baby with breast milk. For this reason, it is recommended that the mother breastfeed her baby before taking emergency contraceptives and milk her baby for the next 6 hours and give her baby food.
To sum up;
1- Preservation success in pills the next day is 95% for the first 12 hours and 58% in 72 hours.
2-If those who take birth control pills forget to take 2 or more pills, they can be used.
3- It is not protective against sexually transmitted diseases.
4- If a new unprotected relationship or contraceptive method error occurs after use, it does not protect the latter.
5-The absence of bleeding after the use of the next day pill does not affect the contraceptive effect of the drug. Bleeding is a side effect independent of the drug’s effectiveness.