How Emergency Contraception Works & How to Get it

 

Emergency contraception is a tablet that a woman takes to avoid pregnancy after unprotected sex. Unprotected sex happens when your regular contraception fails in one way or the other, such as a condom tearing during sex. You can discreetly get the morning after pill in Glenrothes Fife from Cadham Pharmacy.

How does the morning after pill in Glenrothes Fife work?

Emergency hormonal contraception works by stopping or delaying egg release during ovulation. High levels of luteinising hormone (LH) in your body are responsible for triggering ovulation. Higher levels of LH reduce the chances of the emergency pill preventing any pregnancy. This explains why it’s vital that you take the emergency contraceptive pill as soon as possible after unprotected sex to make it more effective.

There are two types of emergency contraception: Levonorgestrel and ellaOne. Increased levels of LH renders Levonorgestrel less effective, but ellaOne may still be effective even later in the menstrual cycle.

Either way, whichever one you take, both emergency pills should be used as soon as possible after unprotected sex, preferably within 24 hours. You have to collect your emergency pill in person. However, you can order and collect it that very day.

Learn more about the morning after pill on our previous blog post here:

Morning After Pill

What are the side effects of taking a morning after pill in Glenrothes Fife?

The common side effects of emergency contraception are nausea, abdominal pain, and headaches.

Can men buy the morning after pill in Glenrothes Fife?

No. It’s only women that have access to emergency contraception. You will have to fill out a questionnaire to confirm eligibility before purchase. The pills are only available in person at your local pharmacy.

Can emergency contraception protect me from STIs?

No. Emergency pills only stop pregnancy. It does not protect against sexually transmitted infections such as HIV, chlamydia, and genital warts.

To avoid getting or spreading sexually transmitted infections or diseases, practise safe sex by wearing a condom during sex.

What is safe sex & unprotected sex?

Unprotected sex happens when no condoms or any other kind of contraception is used. On the other hand, safe sex means you are protecting yourself from pregnancy and infections by using a condom and other forms of protection.

Unprotected sex also occurs when your choice of contraception fails to work. This includes when a condom breaks during sex or when the woman fails to take her regular contraceptive pill.

Birth control pills do not offer protection against diseases. Always practise safe sex in order to avoid sexually transmitted infections or diseases.

Safe sex means using condoms to avoid the spread of sexually transmitted infections and diseases, as well as unwanted pregnancy. Remember to always use a condom, even if you are using other forms of birth control.

Is emergency contraception effective?

Even if emergency contraception is effective, it’s not advisable to use it as a regular form of contraception. Only use it for emergency purposes since regular use makes the pill less effective.

Can Levonelle or ellaOne offer you protection from future pregnancy?

Neither Levonelle nor ellaOne can protect you from future pregnancies. It’s a one-time pill, meaning you can get pregnant if you have unprotected sex anytime after.

They are only effective as emergency pills and are not to be used on a regular basis. But the pill can be taken more than once in a menstrual cycle if necessary.

Is it safe to use the morning after pill?

The morning after pill has been around for more than 30 years, and there is no evidence of any serious health complications. It’s clear that it’s a safe pill to use. It won’t interfere with any of your future pregnancies, and there are no long-term side effects.

Can you get the morning after pill for free?

It’s possible to get emergency contraception for free from various health care providers including some pharmacies, even if you’re below the age of 16.

If you are above the age of 16, you can purchase the emergency contraceptive pill from a number of pharmacies, in person or online.

How long will it take before I get my period?

Your menstrual period that comes just after using emergency contraception can come earlier or later than you expect.

If your period doesn’t come within 3 weeks of using the emergency pill, it would be best to take a pregnancy test.

You should return to your normal menstrual cycle the next month if you are not pregnant. Even though the emergency pill can lead to unexpected changes in your menstrual cycle, the changes shouldn’t last for another month.

Book your appointment with us today and get discreet emergency contraception.

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This blog post was written on behalf of Cadham Pharmacy by Pharmacy Mentor.