Emergency Contraception: The Morning After Pill

If you had this conversation with your partner, it's time for emergency contraception, or the 'morning after pills' as it's commonly known as.

What's the difference between Emergency Contraception Pills and the regular birth control pills?

Brands like Plan B One step, Plan B and Next Choice are approved and exclusively marketed for emergency contraception. While the regular birth control pills contain hormones, estrogen and progestin; the morning after pills are progestin only. Wondering what makes them so effective? These progestin only pills contain a higher dose of levonorgestrel, a hormone that prevents pregnancy when taken in a few days after sex. With some emergency contraceptive you take two doses, with others you could take both doses at the same time.

The following emergency contraception pills are approved and available over the counter.

Morning after Pills: Plan B^® One-Step

Plan B^® One-Step is a single dose emergency contraception, containing1.5 mg of levonorgestrel in just a single pill, which reduces the chances of pregnancy when taken to 3 days after unprotected sex. Mostly safe and effective, many women experience nausea, lower abdominal pain, fatigue, headache, dizziness and breast tenderness.Changes in period are also noticed by many.

Morning after Pills: Next Choice

The Next Choice package states taking one pill within 72 hours of unprotected sex and the other 12 hours later. According to Princeton.edu, "recent research indicates that both doses can be taken at the same time up to 120 hours after unprotected sex. The pills are more effective the sooner they are taken, so take 2 Next Choice pills at the same time as soon as possible after unprotected intercourse."

For women 17 years and older, Next Choice is available without a prescription, but for girls 16 and younger a prescription is essential.

Other oral contraceptive brands that can be used as emergency contraception are

Alesse and Avianecontain 0.5mg of levonorgestrel and 100 pg of ethinyl estradiol.
Recommended Dosage: 5 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex and 5 more pills 12 hours later

Cryselle contains 0.6 mg of levonorgestrel and 120 µg of ethinyl estradiol.
Recommended Dosage: 4 white pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex and 4 more white pills 12 hours later

For a complete list of oral contraceptives used for emergency contraception, please check this out.

Important FAQ

Never swallow extra pills.
Mild nausea goes away within a day of taking pills.
Call your health care provider for a repeated dose if you throw up.
Regular period should start the following month.
Though your period might be early or late by a few days, it's advisable to keep an eye on it. If you don't get it within the expected time, it might be time for a pregnancy test.

Your one stop website for complete information for your morning after, emergency contraceptive pills is http://ec.princeton.edu