The Morning After Pill  The Morning After Pill is an emergency contraception method for women - a way of preventing pregnancy if you had unprotected sex or if you think that the method of contraception you used during sex failed (for example if the condom split). The Morning After Pill is a specific combination of female hormones; Oestrogen, and Progesterone given in two doses of two pills, twelve hours apart. Women should take the Morning After Pill as soon as possible after unprotected sex, (preferably within 24 hours and no later than 72 hours). It is less likely to work if you forget to take the second dose of pills or if you have unprotected sex afterwards. So....how does it work? Ok, so here's the technical stuff. The Morning After Pill is thought to work in two ways. Firstly (if taken early enough) it may prevent fertilization of the egg by the sperm - the more likely way however is that it prevents the fertilized egg from attaching itself to the walls of the uterus and establishing a pregnancy. Exactly how effective is it then? Well, the Morning After Pill decreases the chance of pregnancy by about 75%, but one of the most important things to remember is that it will not protect you from STI's - only pregnancy. I've heard that there's some really nasty side-effects, can you tell me more about them? Yes, there are some side effects to taking the Morning After Pill - most commonly nausea (even vomiting sometimes), other less frequent side effects include headache, breast tenderness and dizziness (however, you are less likely to feel sick if you take the pills after a light meal). If you were to vomit after taking the first set of pills, you should take the second set immediately and consult your doctor, nurse or family planning advisor. If vomiting occurs after taking the second set of pills, then you should seek professional advice IMMEDIATELY.  The Morning After Pill consists of a high dose of female hormones; because of this women with a history of blood clots, high blood pressure or stroke should avoid taking it, and despite what you may have heard there is no evidence that the Morning After Pill will harm the baby.
Ok, so it might make you feel a bit ill - but always remember, the Morning After Pill should NEVER be used as a regular form of contraception.It's available for emergency situations only, either because you and your partner have been a bit careless OR because something went wrong with your normal contraception during sex. Yup, this IS an emergency! Where can I get it? Well, up until now the Morning After Pill was only available on prescription - but you can now get it without a prescription from your local pharmacist, which many have agreed is a good idea given the crucial time period in which this type of contraception is effective. A really important point to remember is that you must visit the doctor 3 - 4 weeks after taking the Morning After Pill to check whether it has been effective or not. For more information about What to do if you're pregnant click on:
Or try these links
Brook Advisory Centres
Website: www.brook.org.uk
Tel: 0800 0185 023 Family Planning Association
Website: www.fpa.org.uk
Tel: 0171 837 4044 Remember!!! - Having sex under the age of 16 in the UK is illegal
- Eddy Vista
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