Morning-after pill: protection in the event of contraceptive mishaps

Pill taken too late? Condom broken? Forgotten your contraception? There are many reasons for a contraceptive breakdown – and it can happen to anyone. With the morning-after pill, an unwanted pregnancy can be prevented in most cases – if you react in time and quickly. Everything you need to know about emergency contraception can be found here.

1 — What is the morning after pill?

What is 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.

Ovulation therefore only takes place when the sperm are no longer active. Fertilization is then no longer possible and a pregnancy can thus not even arise.

The morning-after pill is not an abortifacient.

If ovulation has already occurred, the morning-after pill is no longer effective. If you are unknowingly already pregnant, the morning-after pill will not terminate the pregnancy³.

2 — Effectiveness of the morning after pill

Effectiveness of the morning after pill

The sooner the morning-after pill is taken after unprotected sex, the more effective it is⁴. The decisive factor is that ovulation has not yet occurred. The longer you take, the higher the probability that ovulation will occur.

There are two types of the morning-after pill, each with different active ingredients⁵:

The morning-after pill with the active ungredient Ulipristal acetate is still effective for up to 120hours after unprotected sexual intercourse.
The morning-after pill with the active ingredient levonorgestrel is only effective for up to 72 hours after unprotected sexual intercourse.

Does the morning-after pill always work?

If ovulation has already occurred, the morning-after pill is no longer effective. After a contraceptive breakdown, it is therefore important to take the morning-after pill as soon as possible to prevent ovulation – ideally within 24 hours after sexual intercourse. After that, the effectiveness gradually decreases.

When exactly are the most fertile days? Unfortunately, this can never be predicted exactly, because ovulation is very variable and can occur early, mid or late in the cycle. An ovulation calculation is therefore not a safe method if you want to use contraception6.

Being overweight or taking medication can reduce its effectiveness

The effectiveness of the morning-after pill may be reduced if a woman is overweight⁷. However, if there is a risk of unwanted pregnancy, women should take the morning-after pill as soon as possible, regardless of their weight.

Efficacy may also be reduced if medicines are taken at the same time – preparations containing St. John’s wort, antivirals and antiepileptics, for example⁸. If you regularly take medicines or if you have not been taking them for a long time, you should also discuss this with your doctor in advance.

The morning-after pill does not replace regular contraception.

The morning-after pill is not intended for regular contraception. Only take it after a contraceptive breakdown or when regular contraception has failed or been forgotten. Since the morning-after pill only postpones ovulation, it does not provide contraceptive protection for the rest of the cycle. Therefore, after taking the morning-after pill, you must use a condom until your next menstrual period⁵.

If you have another contraceptive breakdown in the same cycle after taking the morning-after pill, you may be at risk again. Depending on the individual situation, ovulation can then be postponed once again by taking the morning-after pill again, thus preventing pregnancy. In this case, please inform your doctor as soon as possible.

3 — Taking the morning after pill

Taking the morning after pill

After a contraceptive breakdown, it is important to take the morning-after pill as soon as possible to prevent ovulation. Because you can never know exactly when ovulation will occur. It varies greatly⁶ – both from cycle to cycle and from woman to woman.

The morning-after pill can be taken at any time of the day, at any time within the cycle and independently of meals. The morning-after pill is a tablet that is swallowed once, unchewed, with a glass of water.
Important: If vomiting occurs within three hours of taking the morning-after pill, a second tablet should be taken as soon as possible.

4 — Period after the morning-after pill

Period after the morning-after pill

You have taken the morning-after pill and now your period is overdue? It is not unusual for your next period to be delayed after taking the morning-after pill, because your ovulation is delayed by taking the pill. However, if your next period is not due for more than seven days, you should take a pregnancy test to be on the safe side.

5 — Is the morning-after pill a hormone bomb?

Is the morning-after pill a hormone bomb?

Compared to the past, the morning-after pill is no longer a hormone bomb. It has been steadily developed over the past few years. Therefore, it is no longer comparable to the preparations that were once on the market and are responsible for the reputation as a “hormone bomb”. Nevertheless, the morning-after pill should only be used as an emergency contraceptive.

6 — Morning after pill and birth control pill

Morning after pill and birth control pill

You are taking the contraceptive pill and have used the morning-after pill due to an intake error? Then you should continue taking your regular pill as usual5.

Important:

However, there is no contraceptive protection for the rest of the cycle. Use condoms for an additional 14 days after taking the morning-after pill.

If at the end of these 14 days you have not yet taken your pill for 7 days continuously: Continue using condoms – until you have 7 days of continuous use. In some cases, this may mean that you still have to use condoms for the first 7 tablets in the new blister.

If you have any questions, speak to your doctor. They can advise you.

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