Emergency Contraception Made Simple: What you need to know

Emergency contraception is the prevention of pregnancy after sexual intercourse.

This form of contraception is usually used in the following instances;

• Unprotected intercourse
• Sexual assault
• Incorrect use of contraceptives e.g. missing a dose or doses of birth control pills
• Contraceptive failure e.g. failed withdrawal, miscalculation of safe period

There are 2 common types of emergency contraception; emergency contraception pills and copper IUD.

The common contraception pills contain levonorgestrel and they act by preventing or delaying ovulation.

The copper IUD works by preventing fertilization. The copper ions of the IUD cause a chemical reaction in the uterus which makes it unconducive for sperm to survive. The copper IUD is the most effective form of emergency contraception. The copper IUD can be used as both an emergency contraception and as a long-term contraception method

Emergency contraception works best when used immediately after unprotected sex. Most literature says it can be used up to 5 days after unprotected sex. This actually depends on when in her cycle the woman has unprotected sex.

It is, imperative for women to understand their cycles. This will help them to be able to determine if they need to use emergency contraception after unprotected sex. For example, if a woman has ovulated 7 days ago and had unprotected sex 6 days before her menses, there’s no need to take emergency contraception pills.

Sexually active women who do not wish to get pregnant should opt for other forms of long-term contraception such as the copper IUD, hormonal IUD, Implants etc.

It is important to note that emergency contraception pills do not abort a pregnancy.

It is also important to note that the use of emergency contraception pills is not a long-term method of contraception. They are only to be used in times of emergency, just as the name indicates.

It is advised that one should not use emergency contraception pills more than twice in a cycle.

Use of additional protection like condoms or abstinence from sex after using emergency contraception pills till the next period shows up is strongly advised.

Emergency contraception pills can cause some side effects which include; nausea, headaches, disruption of the menstrual cycle, acne, abdominal pain, breast pain, and ectopic pregnancy.

You can get emergency contraception counselling and advice from a Pharmacist.