Questions about the morning after pill

The morning-after pill is an emergency contraceptive. If taken in time, the morning-after pill can postpone ovulation by at least 5 days – this period corresponds to the maximum duration of the ability of sperm to fertilize in the female genital tract^1,2. What happens in the body as a result? A meeting of fertilizable egg and sperm is prevented.

The effect of the morning-after pill is simple: it postpones ovulation³. This can occur in the middle of the female cycle and is triggered by a small increase in hormones⁴. When exactly ovulation occurs varies for each woman and from cycle to cycle⁵. The morning-after pill suppresses the aforementioned hormone surge in the body and thus ensures a postponement of ovulation by about 5 days³.

Yes, morning after pill is a prescription emergency contraceptive. You can either get it from the clinics/ hospitals, Telemedicine where medication can be delivered or with the local retail pharmcies if you have a prescription from your healthcare provider.

NO, the morning-after pill is not a substitute for a regular and long-term contraceptive. Emergency contraception should only be a backup in case other methods fail.

After taking the morning-after pill, menstrual bleeding usually occurs at approximately the expected time plus or minus 3 days – both for preparations with the active ingredient levonorgestrel and for the morning-after pill with ulipristal acetate⁶. Since ovulation is delayed by taking the morning-after pill, the next period may well start later than normal. This also depends on the individual cycle length and external influences such as stress.

This depends on which phase of your cycle you are in at the time of a contraceptive breakdown. The likelihood of getting pregnant is the highest just before ovulation⁷.

Not sure if you’re still pre-ovulating or already post-ovulating in your current cycle? You are not alone in this, because hardly any woman can say exactly. But one thing is certain: the morning-after pill can postpone ovulation if it has not yet occurred.

Also, for emergencies: If you don’t want to get pregnant, you should take the morning-after pill – regardless of the phase of your cycle. Then you are on the safe side. The earlier you take it, the greater the chance that it can postpone your ovulation⁸.The morning-after pill with the active ingredient ulipristal acetate is still effective in the most fertile phase of the cycle until shortly before ovulation, when the risk of pregnancy is highest⁹.

The morning-after pill with the active ingredient ulipristal acetate should be taken no later than 120 hours after unprotected sex, while the variant with the active ingredient levonorgestrel should be taken within a maximum of 72 hours after unprotected intercourse⁸. However, the sooner you take the morning-after pill, the better. This is because the safety of the morning-after pill depends to a large extent on when you take it.

The morning-after pill is an emergency contraceptive, so it should not be taken as often as you like. However, if such an emergency actually occurs twice or even several times in a row, the morning-after pill can also be taken several times¹⁰.

If you find yourself taking the morning after pill multiple times in one cycle, you might want to discuss finding a regular contraceptive method that works for you with a healthcare professional.

As with all medicines, side effects can occur with the morning-after pill – but they do not have to. Some of the most common symptoms are headaches, abdominal pain or discomfort. You may already know these symptoms from your period⁹.

If the symptoms are particularly severe or last longer, you should consult a doctor. In case of vomiting, for example, you should consider taking another morning-after pill as soon as possible.

No, the morning-after pill works specifically and for a short time to prevent unwanted pregnancy after unprotected sexual intercourse. Even if taken more frequently, there is no risk of becoming infertile from it¹⁰.

Only very few antibiotics can have an influence on the effectiveness of the morning-after pill. Therefore, if you need the morning-after pill while you are being treated with antibiotics, inform the doctor or pharmacist about this and get detailed advice.

Alcohol and cigarettes are not things you necessarily have to avoid when it comes to using the morning-after pill. Smokers can take the morning-after pill without having to fear a reduced effect. Nicotine does not impair the effect of the morning-after pill. And alcohol also has no direct influence on the effectiveness of the emergency contraceptive – but there are still risks.

If you are developing a pregnancy and you take the morning-after pill after a contraceptive breakdown, the morning-after pill will not terminate the pregnancy.