The Morning After Pill
The importance of protection during sex is very important, yet often the situation arises when people have not been as careful as they could have been.
Whether this is an error of judgement or a mishap with contraception - such as a split condom or forgetfulness when taking contraceptive pills - people are often forced to seek help the following day to ensure that they do not find themselves pregnant.
As a result, acting quickly and embracing emergency contraception such as the morning after pill is a must if you need to prevent a pregnancy. Available from a number of outlets, the morning after pill can be bought from pharmacies such as Lloyds and private clinics.
The pill prevents the ovaries releasing an egg in a process referred to as ovulation. It also works by thickening the mucus in the neck of the womb, making it harder for sperm to penetrate it and reach an egg. The lining of the womb is also thinned to ensure there is less chance of a fertilised egg implanting into the womb.
This drug can be used five days - or 120 hours - after having unprotected sex and the sooner it is taken, the more likely it is for a person to prevent pregnancy. It may be taken more than once during a menstrual cycle, but it does not protect people against the possibility of pregnancy during the rest of the cycle. It is also not intended to be a regular form of contraception as regular use can severely disrupt the natural way the menstrual cycle operates. Of course, emergency contraceptive pills do not protect against sexually-transmitted infections such as , genital warts, chlamydia or gonorrhoea.
Effectiveness of morning after pills solely depends on how soon it is taken after sex. Taking it within 12 hours of sex gives the individual the best chance of preventing pregnancy, and is 95 per cent effective if taken 24 hours after having unprotected sex. Furthermore, it is 85 per cent effective if it is swallowed between 24 and 48 hours, while being 58 per cent effective should it be had between 48 and 72 hours of sex.
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