Take emergency contraceptive pills once in a while

Due to many reasons, when women have unprotected sex or when contraception fails, many women choose to take emergency contraceptive pills for fear of pregnancy. When taking emergency contraceptive pills, please note that they will only be effective within 72 hours after intercourse. However, emergency contraceptive pills will have a certain impact on your health, so do not take them often.

1. Nausea:

Nausea is the most common side effect, accounting for about 50%; levonorgestrel is second, accounting for about 20%; and mifepristone is the lowest, accounting for about 6%-7%. Nausea usually lasts no longer than 24 hours.

2. Vomiting:

About 20% of women using the Yuzpe method for emergency contraception experience vomiting; about 5% with levonorgestrel; and about 1% with mifepristone. If you vomit within 1 hour after taking the emergency contraceptive pill, you should take another dose as soon as possible.

3. Irregular uterine bleeding:

Some women will experience some spotting after taking the medicine, which generally does not require treatment. You should consult before taking the medicine.

4. Changes in ovulation period:

Taking emergency contraceptive pills will affect the menstrual cycle, making it difficult to calculate the safe period in the following months.

5. Menstrual changes:

If your period is delayed by a week, you should do a urine pregnancy test to determine whether emergency contraception has failed.

Breast tenderness, headache, dizziness, fatigue, etc. These symptoms are generally mild and last no more than 24 hours. Severe breast pain and headache can be treated with aspirin or other painkillers.

How to take emergency contraceptive pills

Emergency contraceptive pills can only be taken once a month. When taking them, please pay attention to the following:

1. Do not take too much.

It is generally used once a month at most and should not be used continuously.

2. The earlier you take the medicine, the better the effect.

Take one tablet within 72 hours, and then take another tablet every 12 hours, for a total of 2 tablets.

3. Take supplementary medicine.

If vomiting occurs within 2 hours after taking the medicine, you must take another tablet immediately. If you have sexual intercourse after taking the medicine, you must take contraceptive measures.

Patients with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, breast cancer, breastfeeding women within six months after delivery, and those who are confirmed to be pregnant are strictly prohibited from using this medicine.

When is emergency contraceptive effective?

Emergency contraceptive pills are usually taken within 72 hours after sexual intercourse, and then another pill 12 hours later. The earlier you take it, the better the effect. What you need to pay attention to is that when taking medicine, you should generally take it on an empty stomach or do not eat for two hours after taking it, so as not to affect the efficacy of the medicine.

After taking the emergency contraceptive pill, you are not allowed to have sex without contraception during this menstrual cycle. If you have sex again, you should use conventional contraceptive methods. If your period is missed, you should go to the hospital and take a pregnancy test to determine whether emergency contraception has failed.