Morning after Pill

[Bella]

How many days after having unprotected sex can you take the pill and it still be effective?

[himynameistara]

72 hours (3 days)

but its more effective if taken within 24 hours.

[BabyBlue]

The above post is spot on, but a side effect of the morning after pill is that it can make you nauseous. If you vomit you need to re-take the dose.
If you miss the 72hours/3days limit you can still avoid an unwanted pregnancy by having and IDU or coil fitted for up to 5 days after the unprotected sex occurred, though this is a less desirable method and is usually a last resort.

[just_me]

where do you get that pill at?

[Brandye]

There is much confusion about what the "morning after pill" really is. Mifesterone, or RU-486, is a true abortifaecent that was developed in France and is now available by prescription only all over the world.

For many years, some doctors (or friends) have provided birth control pills in sufficient numbers to act as a morning after pill. Probably any woman can find this out in any women's dormitaory. A few of the pills were actually approved in many countries for this use. Not all, especially the very low dose pills, are appropriate to this use. I have prescribed these.

More recently, and under different names in different countries, a true morning after pill to prevent conception has become available. Sometimes, this amounts to two pills 12 hours apart and sometimes two pills and that is it. In some countries these are available over the counter. In most countries, a prescription is required. Any sex clinic or most public clinics can provide the prescription if not the pills.

None of these are intended for primary birth control replacing other contraceptive measures. Most women who have tried any of them felt terrible enough that they would not want to use them as a regular method. Some physicians believe that they should be used only if the woman is willing to follow up with a traditional d&c abortion as fetal damage can result.

With any of these approaches, the sooner you take them, the better the results. Test results show all three approaches 75% or more effective. Thw Levonelle (UK name) has shown 95% effectiveness but is generally found to be 85% effective.

Best advice: do not get yourself into a position where you need it!!

[allamericangirl]

Isnt the morning after pill for rape victoms?
sick how pp use it for a birth control.
I wouldnt even use it if i were raped....

ITS MURDER

[mcs]

i would never use the morning after pill, no matter what the circumstances where. i'd feel way too guilty.

[Brandye]

mcs and AllAmericanGirl,

Be gentle. We each have our own value systems and should live by them. Once raped, other factors enter the mix. Any woman can find herself in this position and about 20%+ of us have been targets of sexual abuse.

Unexpected pregnancy can really mess up a few lives. A decision is purely a head trip until we, individually, are in that position. Weekly, there are women in my office struggling with these issues and I cannot make the decison for them.

I get really uncomfortable when a woman leaves my office in tears because she is not pregnant followed by a woman in tears because she is pregnant.

Judge not .....