Emergency Contraception For Unwanted Pregnancy!

Discovering you are pregnant when you don’t want to be can be one of the most terrifying moments in your life.

Then various questions can pop in your mind, such as what to do, what are the options, should I keep the baby, should I give the baby for adoption or should I abort the baby?

If you want to abort the baby, then you can consider emergency contraception, also called as morning after pills.

It is a birth control method that prevents pregnancy after having sex, so it is called as “the morning after pill”.

You can use emergency contraception immediately or up to five days after having sex.

Emergency contraception makes much less likely you will become pregnant. But, they are not as effective as the birth control methods that are used before sex such as condoms or pills.

There are two kinds of emergency contraceptive pills. Both these pills have same type of hormones that a normal birth control pill contains. You can safely use emergency contraceptive pill if you miss your everyday birth control pills.

Types of emergency contraceptive pills:

1. The first kind of emergency contraceptive pills contain a hormone called as progestin. It is the only type of pill that is available in US, usually with a brand name called as Plan B.

Plan B and various other most popular emergency contraceptive pills can reduce your chance of getting pregnant by 89%. Even if you become pregnant, these pills are less likely to cause any side effects on your baby.

It doesn’t mean that 11% of women become pregnant by using these pills. It just means that, they prevent 89% of the pregnancies that would happen when you don’t use birth control or the contraception fails.

For example, if 100 women have unprotected sex in the second or third week of their menstrual cycle, then 8 women can become pregnant. If the same women use emergency contraception, only one can get pregnancy.

Plan B contains emergency contraceptive pills. Each pill contains 0.75 mg of levonorgestrel and you need to take these pill 12 hours apart. You can these emergency contraceptive pills within 72 hours after having sex. Simultaneously, you can also use your every day birth control pill.

Women of age 17 years or under should need prescription for plan B. even if you take both plan B pills at a time; it doesn’t decrease its effectiveness or increase the side effects. Not taking plan B pills within five days after having sex can cause you to become pregnant. These emergency contraceptive pills work much better the sooner you take after having sex.

2. The second kind of emergency contraceptive pills contain both progestin and estrogen hormone, so they can be also called as combined emergency contraceptive pills. These pills can reduce your chance of becoming pregnant by 75% and there is a great chance to experience side effects like nausea and vomiting.

For example, if 100 women have unprotected sex in the second or third week of their menstrual cycle, then 8 women can become pregnant. If those 100 women use combined emergency contraceptive pills, only two can get pregnancy.

When you take birth control pills as emergency contraception, you must take the pills in two doses and 12 hours apart. The number of pills in each dose depends on the brand of the pill you use. You must use the same brand of pill for each dose.

After you take emergency contraception, it's normal for your next period to be different from usual.

• It may be earlier or later than usual.


• It may be heavier, lighter, more spotty, or the same as usual.

Birth Control Methods To Prevent Pregnancy!

Don’t want to become pregnant right now?

Birth control is any method used to prevent your pregnancy. Contraception is another word used for birth control.

Having sex without considering any birth control option can give a chance to get pregnant. Every year, 85 out of 100 women who don’t use birth control have an unplanned pregnancy.

The only definite way to not become pregnant is to avoid sex. But, finding a good birth control choice can every time help you to avoid the unplanned pregnancy.

Here are various birth control choices:

You will find various birth control choices with each have its own pros and cons. So, learning about these methods can help you to find the right choice.

1. Hormonal methods

You can find hormonal methods in various forms such as pills, shots, rings, or implants. Hormonal medications contain hormones such as estrogen and/or progesterone.

Hormonal methods work in one of these three ways, one is they prevents your ovaries from releasing the egg, second is they thicken your cervical mucus making it harder for the sperm to reach the egg and third is they make your uterus lining to become thin and create an environment in which the fertilized egg can not nourish.

But hormonal contraception won’t protect you against sexually transmitted diseases.

Birth control pills: The pills can be taken on a daily basis as suggested by your care provider.

Lunelle: It is an injection given by your care provider that prevents pregnancy for one month.

Depo-provera: This is an injection given by your healthcare provider that prevents pregnancy for three months.

Vaginal ring: It is a plastic ring that can be inserted into your vagina for three weeks, removed for a week and then replaced with a new one.

Birth control patch: It is directly placed on your skin. For first three weeks, you can place the patch on your hip, upper arm or buttocks. For the last week, you can remove the patch to allow menstrual period.

2. Intrauterine devices (IUDs)

These devices are inserted in your uterus. IUDs are safe and they work well for 5-10 years at a time. For example, Mirena IUD contains a hormone that can help with heavy periods and cramping.

IUDs won’t prevent the sperm from entering into your uterus; rather it thickens the cervical mucus making it difficult for fertilization and also prevents implantation.

3. Barrier birth control methods

These methods can be physical or chemical contraception that are designed to prevent the sperm from entering into your uterus.

Female condom: It is a seven-inch long pouch of polyurethane that has two flexible rings. You need to insert it into your vagina before the intercourse. It covers your cervix, vaginal canal and the area around the vagina.

Diaphragm: It is soft and looks like a rubber dome that can be stretched over a flexible ring. The dome consists of a spermicidal jelly or cream and is inserted in your vagina before intercourse. But diaphragm can not be placed for more than 3 hours.

Contraceptive sponge: It is soft and appears in a saucer shape and is made with polyurethane foam.

Spermicides: These are the chemicals that help to kill the sperm. You can find spermicides in various forms such as foam, jelly, vaginal suppositories and foaming tablets.

Cervical cap: It looks like a small cup and is made with latex rubber or plastic. It can be inserted into your vagina and over your cervix.
4. Emergency contraception

This is a backup method that helps to prevent the pregnancy if you forget to take birth control pill or if the condom breaks.

5. Sterilization

This is a permanent birth control that gives lasting protection against the pregnancy. Tubal ligation is a method in which the fallopian tubes are tied and prevent the egg from reaching sperm.

6. Natural family planning

This method works well if you and your partner are very careful. Keep a record to know what are the fertile days and during this period, you can avoid the sex or use one of the barrier methods.