What is Emergency Contraception?

Emergency Contraception (EC) is a special dose of oral contraceptive pills. Sometimes it is called the 'morning after pill'. Emergency contraceptive pills (EC) are hormone pills which are used by a woman after having unprotected sexual intercourse to reduce the likelihood of an unplanned pregnancy.

Emergency contraception works by preventing or delaying ovulation in that menstrual cycle by stopping a fertilised egg from implanting in the uterus, and also blocks the movement of sperm by making the mucus at the entrance of the uterus thicker. It also interrupts the hormones needed for a fertilized egg to start a pregnancy.

There are three methods of EC, but in Australia the ‘progesterone only’ method is mainly used.

• The ‘progesterone only’ method is two pills of emergency contraception (Postinor-2 or Levonelle-2) containing a dose of a female progesterone only hormones. This is similar to taking a large quantity of the minipill.
  
  
• The combined pill (Yuzpe) method, containing oestrogen and progesterone. This has been available for decades and is a high dose of the (combined) pill. It is not used very often now that the progesterone only method is available.
  
  
• IUD insertion. An IUD is only used as emergency contraception in special circumstances because usually it is used as a long-term method of contraception. Also, it may not be suitable for some women. It is best advised that you talk to your health care practitioner about the IUD.

Who can take Emergency Contraception?

Most women can take Emergency Contraception pills, including young women and women who have side effects from oral contraceptive pills (for example, migraines). Women already on the pill can take EC if needed (for example, following a forgotten oral contraceptive pill). It is also safe to use emergency contraception while breastfeeding. It will not decrease milk supply. Some progesterone may go through the milk to the baby but there is no evidence this causes any harm to the baby. Fully breastfeeding women who are amenorrhoeic (no vaginal bleeding after 56 days postpartum), have a negligible risk of pregnancy in the first 6 months postpartum. If a breastfeeding woman taking the progestogen-only pill misses a single pill, the risk of pregnancy is very low particularly if she is amenorrhoeic.

When would Emergency Contraception be used?

Emergency Contraception (EC) is needed to prevent pregnancy after sexual intercourse between a woman and a man when:

• Regular or no contraception was used
• She has had inadequate cover on the pill, eg: missed pills, or is taking antibiotics, without using extra protection eg: condoms
• Diaphragm has dislodged
• A condom breaks or slipped off
• ‘Withdrawal’ is used as a ‘method’ of contraception (the man withdraws his penis before he ejaculates/cums inside the vagina).
• In the case of being sexually assaulted.

How effective is Emergency Contraception?

Emergency Contraception (EC) is most effective if used within 24 hours of having unprotected sex. Overall the progesterone only method is 90% effective if taken within 24hours. The earlier EC is taken the better. However Emergency Contraception can be effective anywhere up 72 hours with an effectiveness rate of around 60% having unprotected sex. It will not cover any pregnancy risk that may have occurred earlier in the menstrual cycle.

Emergency Contraception does not provide any on-going contraception and does not provide protection against HIV/AIDS or any other Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI’s) or blood borne viruses.

When will I get my next period?

After taking Emergency Contraception, most women have their next period roughly on time. About 20 per cent will have an early period and 10 per cent a late period. If it is more than 1 week after taking ECP, the woman should have a pregnancy test.

Where do you get Emergency Contraception?

Since January 2004 in Australia Emergency Contraceptive pills have been available over the counter without a doctors prescription at most pharmacies and chemists.  Emergency Contraceptive Pills may be obtained from a pharmacist without a prescription at a cost of about $20-$50. EC is also available from most family planning and sexual health clinics, public hospital emergency departments and youth health services. 

In Canberra, EC is available from the Sexual Health and Family Planning ACT (SHFPACT) Clinic, The Junction Youth Health Service, The Canberra Hospita Emergency Department and most pharmacies and chemists. 

When you ask for EC, the pharmacist, doctor or health worker will discuss your health, the effects and side effects of EC and how to take the tablets.

What are the side effects of Emergency Contraception pills?

Side effects may include nausea/vomiting, headache, tender breasts or some bleeding from the vagina. These usually pass within 2 days.

Is it true that there is also a method of Emergency Contraception that involves taking 50 pills?

Yes it is true. By using minipills instead, your health practitioner can also make up the same dosage of hormones in the pre-packaged emergency pill. These are the kind of contraceptive pills that some women use while they are breastfeeding. Because each of these pills has such a low dose of hormone in it, to get the correct amount you need to take 25 minipills as soon as possible after unprotected sex, and then another 25 exactly 12 hours later. The doctor or nurse might suggest this method to you, even though it is harder to take so many pills, because it can be cheaper than using Postinor-2 or Levonelle-2.

Seek Support From Someone you Can Trust

Even if you regularly use contraception, accidents can happen. If you do need emergency contraception or if you do fall pregnant, you might like your partner or a friend or parent to go with you to the health practitioner or to the pharmacy for support. These situations can be stressful and it can be helpful to have someone else supporting you through the experience. If you still feel anxious or have any concerns afterwards, it might help to see a counsellor to talk through your feelings.

Things to remember

• Emergency Contraception must be started within 72 hours of having unprotected sex. 
• Some types of morning after pill can cause nausea and vomiting.
• See your doctor if your period following the emergency pill is late or unusual.
• Emergency contraception is not an alternative to regular methods of birth control and does not provide any protection against HIV/AIDS or other Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI’s) or blood borne viruses.

This page uses information sourced from:
www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au
www.fpv.org.au
www.reachout.com.au
www.shinesa.org.au
www.fpq.com.au
www.fpahealth.org.au
www.reachout.com.au
www.healthinsite.gov.au
www.fpq.com.au
www.health.nsw.gov.au
 

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