| Effectiveness: Your risk
of becoming pregnant during your most fertile days (halfway between two menstrual periods)
is as high as high as 30%. Using the MAP decreases your chance of becoming pregnant by
about 75%. For instance, a 30% chance of becoming pregnant would be reduced to less than
8%.NOTE: MAY BE AN ABORTIVE METHOD OF BIRTH CONTROL as
fertilization of an egg is still possible.
Overview
The morning after pill (MAP) is a treatment which aims to prevent pregnancy by
temporarily stopping eggs from being produced, by stopping fertilization, or by
stopping implantation of a fertilized egg in the uterus (MAP working in
this manner is abortive). The treatment consists of two doses of
hormone pills: the first taken as soon as possible after unprotected
intercourse, and the second taken 12 hours later.
NOTE: MAP is used only for emergency situations and should not be used as an
ongoing birth control method. In addition, the MAP will not
terminate an existing pregnancy and may be harmful to the fetus.
Benefits
- May be the treatment of last resort
Disadvantages
- Possible abortifacient.
- Must be started within 72 hours after intercourse
- May experience nausea or vomiting, headache, breast tenderness,
dizziness, and fluid retention
- Could experience rarely occurring dangerous or even fatal
complications like those reported for routine use of birth control pills, including blood
clots, heart attacks or strokes, liver disorders, gallbladder disease, and high blood
pressure
To find out more visit MorningAfterPill.org |
