After day pill how does it work

For maximum effectiveness, emergency contraception should be started as soon as possible after unprotected intercourse, and within hours. You can take emergency contraceptive pills anytime during your menstrual cycle. Using the morning-after pill may delay your period by up to one week.

If you don't get your period within three to four weeks of taking the morning-after pill, take a pregnancy test. Normally, you don't need to contact your health care provider after using the morning-after pill.

However, if you have bleeding or spotting that lasts longer than a week or develop severe lower abdominal pain three to five weeks after taking the morning-after pill, contact him or her. These can indicate a miscarriage or that the fertilized egg has implanted outside the uterus, usually in a fallopian tube ectopic pregnancy. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission.

This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Sections for Morning-after pill About. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. The "morning-after" name is somewhat misleading: You don't have to wait until the next morning to take ECPs.

Emergency contraception is most effective when taken as soon as possible after unprotected sex. Emergency contraception will not prevent pregnancy if unprotected sex happens after taking the ECPs. Emergency contraception does not prevent all pregnancies. So a girl should see a doctor if she doesn't get her next expected period after taking ECPs. Emergency contraception does not protect against STDs. Couples having sex must always use condoms to protect against STDs even when using another birth control method.

These usually are minor, and most improve within 1 to 2 days. A girl's menstrual period may be temporarily irregular after she takes ECPs. ECPs are also available to young women who are forced to have unprotected sex.

Emergency contraception prevents pregnancy if you have not used contraception or think your usual method of contraception has failed. Both types of emergency contraception are effective at preventing pregnancy if they are used soon after unprotected sex. All women who need emergency contraception should be offered the copper IUD if appropriate or acceptable , as it is the most effective form of emergency contraception.

Less than 0. It's thought ellaOne is, on average, more effective than Levonelle. Find out where to get emergency contraception. The IUD is the most effective form of emergency contraception. Trials suggest the failure rate for the IUD as emergency contraception is lower than 0. This means less than 1 woman in 1, using the IUD as emergency contraception will become pregnant.

The IUD must be fitted by a healthcare professional within 5 days hours of having unprotected sex or, if it's possible to estimate when you ovulate, up to 5 days after you ovulate. Levonelle contains levonorgestrel and has to be taken within 72 hours 3 days of unprotected sex.

EllaOne contains ulipristal acetate and is licensed to be taken within hours 5 days of unprotected sex. Both Levonelle and ellaOne are effective only if taken before the release of an egg from the ovary ovulation.

The sooner you take Levonelle or ellaOne, the more effective it will be. Levonelle appears not to be effective after levels of LH start to rise. EllaOne continues to be effective a little later in the cycle. In comparison, it's estimated that 0. The effectiveness of both Levonelle or ellaOne may be reduced if a woman has a high body mass index BMI. This makes it harder to provide a more precise estimate for either pill.