3 Things You may Not Know About The Morning-After Pill
The morning after pill does not guarantee you will not get pregnant
You may have heard about the morning-after pill; you may have even taken the pill yourself. Before we get to the unknowns, let’s get some basic information out of the way. The morning-after pill does not guarantee you will not get pregnant, nor does it provide protection against STIs, so it’s a good idea to get a free STI/STD test if you’ve had unprotected sex. Now on to some some things you may not know.
1. The morning-after pill is not designed to stay in your body for long. It is intended to be used every time you have unprotected sex.
Yes, that means if you had unprotected sex on Monday, took the
morning-after pill and then had unprotected sex again on Wednesday, you would have to take another pill Wednesday. Depending on what brand you buy, that could cost $100. Not very cost effective.
2. The morning-after pill is NOT an effective form of birth control.
Most morning-after pills are OTC (over the counter). The hormone used is designed to delay ovulation; meaning it is supposed to delay the release of the egg from the ovary. Its effect is very temporary. If you need reliable, long term pregnancy prevention, this is not the solution.
3. The morning-after pill will likely delay your menstrual cycle.
Using the morning-after pill may delay your period by up to one week. The number one side effect of these types of pills is irregular periods, which can make tracking your period difficult.
The morning-after pill does not guarantee you will not get pregnant, so if you do not get your period within 3-4 weeks you will need to test for pregnancy.
That’s where we come in. If you think you’re pregnant, it’s important to know for sure. Contact Alcove Health Women’s Clinic today for your free pregnancy test, free STI/STD testing, and options consultation. All of our services are provided at no-cost and with confidentiality, right here in Newport News. Make us your first CALL and gain everything you need to make a decision that’s right for your reproductive health.
By Kinta, RN, BSN, Nurse Manager
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