Morning after pill

If you have had unprotected sex without wanting to have children, the morning-after pill is the best option. It is a form of emergency contraception that can be used after unprotected sex and/or failure of contraception. In this article we will look at what the morning-after pill is and how emergency contraception works.

What is the morning-after pill?

The morning-after pill is a pill that can be taken the day after you have had unprotected sex. The morning-after pill is available in the form of a pill, but can also be inserted as a hormone IUD.

The morning-after pill can be used if you have had unprotected sex. However, it can also be used if your contraception has not worked. This could include the condom breaking or the pill failing. If you have forgotten to take the pill or you have vomited after taking the pill, it is no longer reliable.

Can you do something about unwanted pregnancy yourself?

If you do not want to become pregnant, it is best to simply use contraception. This makes it possible to use a condom or the pill. There are also various other contraceptives that can be used to prevent pregnancy.

If you are already pregnant, the morning-after pill no longer helps. Fortunately, in the Netherlands it is possible to have overdue treatment or an abortion. To find out about the options available, it is best to contact your doctor.

When should you consult your GP?

In some cases it is a better option to contact your GP immediately. This is best done in the following situations:

• If it has been more than 5 days since unprotected sex
• You have used the morning-after pill more often in a short period of time
• You prefer to have a morning-after coil
• If you can get pregnant from other unprotected sex
• If there is a chance of an STD
• You have had unwanted sexual contact
• If you know that you are hypersensitive to the morning-after pill
• You have liver function disorders

The doctor can inform you about the options you have and what can be done about an unwanted pregnancy.

What can the pharmacist do for me?

The pharmacist can help you with the morning-after pill. This is because this pill can be obtained from the pharmacist. You do not need a prescription from your doctor for this. The pharmacist can inform you about the morning-after pill.

Forms of the morning-after pill

The morning-after pill comes in three forms. There is the morning-after pill with levonorgestrel, the morning-after pill with unipristal and the morning-after coil. The morning-after pill with levonorgestrel works up to 3 days after unprotected sex. The morning-after pill with unipristal works up to 5 days after unprotected sex.

You will have to go to the doctor for the morning-after IUD. This person can insert the IUD into you. This must also be inserted 5 days after unprotected sex. The nice thing about the IUD is that it can work as contraception for 5 to 10 years if you want to have sex.