Emergency Contraception
Emergency contraception is a method of preventing pregnancy after unprotected sex or if your other contraception has failed. It is not 100% effective. Pregnancy can still occur.
There are two methods of emergency contraception:
- Progestogen-only pills
- Copper IUD (intra-uterine device) inserted into the womb.
Both of these methods can be very effective but within a certain time limit.
How do they work?
Progestogen-only pills:
- Prevent ovulation if it has not already occurred
- Prevent implantation of an egg that has already been fertilized.
The IUD:
- Helps to prevent fertilization early in the menstrual cycle by hindering sperm from reaching the egg.
- Makes it harder for a fertilised egg to implant in the womb.
Is it for me?
You may be feeling that your situation is quite urgent, but it is also important to consider how progestogen-only pills work. Depending on the time in your menstrual cycle that you take the pills, it works in different ways.
Taken before you ovulate (release an egg) it prevents the egg being released. Taken after you ovulate, it may prevent an already fertilized egg from implanting (settling into the womb). Conception will already have taken place.
If you are taking any other medication, you will need to consult a doctor before taking emergency contraception pills
The IUD does not prevent an egg being released. It can prevent an egg from being fertilized, but it can also prevent a fertilized egg from implanting. Again, this means that conception has already taken place.
It is important that you consider carefully what this means, because you may want to think about when life begins.
To understand this better, you may find it helpful to look at the Pregnancy Timeline. [Click Here]
What's the time limit?
- Emergency contraception pills need to be taken within 72 hours after unprotected sex. They are 95% effective if taken within 24 hours; 85% effective if taken within 25-48 hours and 58% effective if taken within 49-72 hours.
- An IUD can be inserted up to 5 days after you had unprotected sex or up to 5 days after the time you could have ovulated (released an egg). An IUD is effective in 98% of cases.
What are the side effects?
- Emergency contraception pills may cause nausea, tiredness, headaches, dizziness, breast tenderness and pain in the abdomen. If vomiting occurs within two hours of taking the pills, you need to speak to a nurse or doctor as soon as possible.
- Your next period may be early, on time or late. Bleeding between taking emergency contraceptive pills and your next period may also occur.
- Emergency contraceptive pills are not known to damage a developing baby if pregnancy does occur.
- There is a risk of ectopic pregnancy. This is when the fertilized egg settles in the fallopian tube rather than the womb. An ectopic pregnancy can be a serious condition, particularly if undetected.
- An IUD may cause an infection (especially if you have a sexually transmitted infection). You will probably be asked about your sexual history and may be offered a testing for STI's).
- IUD's can also perforate or damage your womb or cervix (the neck of the womb).
- Pregnancy can still occur. Women should return for a pregnancy test if their expected period is more than 7 days late.
