In the meantime, the morning-after pill is available without a prescription. However, only very few women know about the side effects and how to take it correctly. Let's change that!
The morning-after pill is purely emergency contraception. In the best case, you will not have to take it at all.
An unwanted pregnancy should be prevented during sex. But we don't want to play the moralizer now.
Many women have already been in such a situation, or at least they know someone. It just happened. Met at the disco, made out and slept together at home without a condom.
But even a broken condom or a forgotten pill can cause you to need the morning-after pill.
Table of contents
- How the morning after pill works
- Why taking the morning-after pill quickly is so important
- How to take the pill
- What happens after taking
- How safe the morning after pill is
- Where to get the pill and whether you need to see a doctor for it
- How much the morning after pill costs
- What are the side effects of the morning after pill
- When you will have your next period
We'll tell you what to look for when taking emergency contraception, where to buy it, and exactly what it does to your body.
First of all, it is important that you take a deep breath, clear your head and collect your thoughts. The morning-after pill is not an abortion!
No doctor or pharmacist will judge you for taking the morning-after pill. Take a deep breath and head to the nearest pharmacy if you don't want to get pregnant.
Contraception without hormones - All methods at a glance!
How the morning after pill works
There are basically two different types of morning-after pill: products with the active ingredient levonorgestrel and products with the active ingredient ulipristal acetate.
Both types prevent or delay ovulation. As a result, the egg and sperm do not meet.
No fertilization of the egg occurs.
The morning-after pill only works after the fact and for a short time. This means that you must use contraception every time you have sex during your monthly cycle, even if you have taken the morning-after pill beforehand.
This is how you can stimulate your period!
Why taking the morning-after pill quickly is so important
To prevent an unwanted pregnancy, it is important that you take the morning-after pill as soon as possible.
Especially with products containing the active ingredient "levonorgestrel".
Do not hesitate if you are unsure. Every hour of brooding and thinking makes the morning-after pill work worse.
At the beginning, emergency contraception 94 % protects against pregnancy. Already 24 hours after sexual intercourse, the effectiveness decreases.
72 hours have already passed after sex? Then you should no longer take the morning-after pill with the active ingredient levonorgestrel. This preparation can only prevent pregnancy if you take it one day before ovulation.
The pill with the active ingredient ulipristal acetate is different. You can take this medicine up to 180 hours (5 days) after the contraceptive breakdown.
At the same time, this preparation remains effective unchanged. However, it is crucial for the effectiveness that you act quickly. The sooner, the better!
Tip: With a basal thermometer, you can always keep a close eye on your cycle when using hormone-free contraception! I recommend this model with app and particularly accurate temperature display.
How to take the pill
Taking the morning-after pill is the same for both types. In the form of a tablet, it is taken as soon as possible with some water.
The preparation is often better tolerated by the stomach if you have eaten a snack beforehand.
If you vomit three hours after swallowing the tablet, the emergency contraception may not work. In this case, you should get another one.
Basically, you can take the small tablet at any time, regardless of your cycle.
What happens after taking
You have taken the morning-after pill to prevent an unwanted pregnancy? But what happens now after taking it?
In many cases, your next menstrual period will be delayed. It may come earlier or later than normal.
However, if your period still doesn't come after a week, you should take a pregnancy test or see a doctor.
Tip: A pregnancy test for early detection is available at the drugstore. Or you can buy it online.
Particularly heavy or light bleeding, tightness in the breast, nausea and abdominal pain should also be clarified by a gynecologist.
Until your next period, you should definitely use a contraceptive without hormones during sexual intercourse.
You have taken a product with the active ingredient levonorgestrel because of a mistake in taking the pill? Then you must still continue to take your pill as normal until the end of the cycle. In addition, you must use a non-hormonal contraceptive, such as a condom, for the next 7 days. Only then can you be sure that you will not risk another pregnancy.
You have taken a product with the ingredient ulipristal acetate? Then you should stop taking the pill for five days and use another form of contraception. If you have any further questions, you can always contact your gynecologist or the pharmacy.
How safe the morning after pill is
If you took the tablet before ovulation after a contraceptive breakdown, you are very likely to prevent pregnancy.
The fact is: the longer the period between unprotected sex and taking the drug, the greater the risk that ovulation can still occur during this period. The effectiveness of the drug therefore depends on when it is taken.
Are you taking other medications at the same time? This could become a problem. The effectiveness of the morning-after pill may be limited if you are taking antibiotics, antivirals, medicines containing St. John's wort, antiepileptics or preparations against HIV infections. In such a case, you should definitely discuss this with your doctor or pharmacy beforehand.
Being very overweight can also reduce the effectiveness of the levonorgestrel pill. Seek advice at the pharmacy or from your doctor.
Where to get the pill and whether you need to see a doctor for it
In both Austria and Germany, the morning-after pill is available without prescription in pharmacies.
It is best to get detailed advice on the product there. A visit to the doctor is not necessary.
Experts hope that easier access to this drug will lead to a decrease in abortions. The drug is also available at night and on weekends. Emergency pharmacy services are available for this purpose.
How much the morning after pill costs
You had a contraceptive mishap and wonder how expensive is a drug that can prevent pregnancy? Prices vary widely, as there is no set retail price for such preparations. Here you can find out exactly how much the tablet costs in Germany and Austria.
Morning after pill costs in Germany
Although the morning-after pill is not available by prescription, the cost is covered by health insurance for women up to 22.
However, the prescription fee of 5 euros must be paid by the patient. However, the prerequisite for this is that the preparation has been prescribed by a doctor.
Women over the age of 22 can also buy the tablet from a pharmacy without a prescription. However, the costs are not reimbursed by the statutory health insurance in this case.
For girls under 14, parental consent is required.
Preparations with the ingredient levonorgestrel cost between 16 and 18.50. Drugs with ulipristal acetate are available from 35 euros.
Morning after pill cost in Austria
In Austria, the pill is also available without a prescription in pharmacies after a contraceptive breakdown.
There is no age restriction. This means that young people can also purchase the product in pharmacies. Since 2014, products with the active ingredient ulipristal acetate have also been available without a prescription. Here, too, prices can vary widely.
For a drug with levonorgestrel, you have to expect 12.90 to 13.50 euros. Ulipristal preparations are available from 31.50 euros.
What are the side effects of the morning after pill
Such drugs are really to be taken only in an emergency. So the pill is really taken only once or at least selectively. But this also means that the tablet is well tolerated in most cases. Nevertheless, it is a strong drug that has a great influence on the body.
Typical side effects of the morning after pill
- Nausea
- Spotting and bleeding in between
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
These symptoms do not go away for you? Do you have pain? In any case, you should have this clarified by a doctor.
When you will have your next period
You have taken the pill and are now wondering when your next period will come? And what is actually going on with your cycle now?
In most cases, bleeding occurs as usual. However, it may come 7 days later or earlier.
In rare cases, it is also possible that menstruation is delayed by more than 20 days. Are you already a week past the expected date of your bleeding? Then you should take a pregnancy test and visit your gynecologist to be on the safe side.
Our conclusion
You can get the morning-after pill without a prescription. It is not intended for regular contraception. Therefore, you should really only use it if you want to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex.
But do not panic! This medication is in no way comparable to an abortion. Always get detailed advice at the pharmacy before taking it. If you have frequent contraceptive mishaps, you should talk to your doctor about another contraceptive method.
All the best and do not forget: Take a deep breath and act immediately!
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