Factsheet
Emergency Contraception
Date 05 February 2009
BASIC FACTS |
WHAT IS THE EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTIVE PILL?
The emergency contraceptive pill or ECP (sometimes wrongly called the 'morning after pill') is a special dose of hormones that are used in oral contraceptive pills. You can take it to reduce the chance of getting pregnant after having unprotected sex, i.e. if you did not use any contraception, or you used a condom that broke during sex.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
The emergency pill can delay the release of an egg from a woman's ovaries or it may stop a fertilised egg from implanting in the womb. If you use the emergency pill, you should keep on using other contraception, e.g. the Pill or condoms, until your next period, or you could still become pregnant.
HOW DO YOU TAKE IT?
Emergency contraception is more effective the sooner you take it after unprotected sex. You need to take the emergency pill within 120 hours (five days).
TYPES OF EMERGENCY PILLS
Emergency pill - a pack with just one pill
This is called Postinor-1. The pill contains progestogen which is one of the hormones found in oral contraceptive pills.
Emergency pills in a pack of two single pills
This is called NorLevo. Each pill contains progestogen. The manufacturer recommends that you take one of these pills as soon as possible after unprotected sex and one exactly 12 hours later. So if you take the first pill at 11am, you take the second one at 11pm.
Recent studies suggest that this kind of emergency pill works just as well if you take both pills at once. If you want to do this, ask a doctor or nurse about it. This method prevents seven out of eight expected pregnancies and side effects are not common. You might have some bleeding a few days after using this method.
OTHER EMERGENCY PILLS
An older kind of emergency contraception contains both the hormones that are in the combined contraceptive pill. You take four of these pills (Microgynon 30, Levlen Ed, Nordette or Monofeme) as soon as possible after unprotected sex, and four more 12 hours later. This kind of emergency contraception is not as effective and has more side effects (like nausea and vomiting) than the other method. It should probably only be used when there is nothing else available. It prevents three out of four expected pregnancies.
IMPORTANT: If you have vomiting less than two hours after you take a dose of emergency contraception you should take another dose. If you have vomiting MORE than two hours after a dose, there is no need to take another dose.
WHEN SHOULD YOU GET YOUR NEXT PERIOD?
Most women have a period at about the expected time.
WHAT IF YOUR PERIOD IS LATE?
If your period is more than a week late, or if you have any other concerns, contact your health practitioner or Healthline for advice.
WHERE CAN I GET THE EMERGENCY PILL?
You can get the emergency contraceptive pill from pharmacies without a doctor's prescription. It costs about $20-$30. The pharmacist may ask you a few questions to be sure that it is safe for you to take this medication.
For further information
- Contact the Healthline on 1300 658 886.
