When to use emergency oral contraceptives

• April 24, 2024

It is a topic that interests all women, and not a few men, with an emphasis on those people who are in their teens. The Latin American Consortium for Emergency Contraception (CLAE) has answered the most frequently asked questions about the use of these contraceptive pills that women can use to prevent a pregnancy, after an unprotected sexual relationship and up to 120 hours (5 days) after the act.

The agency indicates that the faster you take the emergency oral contraceptive (AOE), the greater its effect of protection, decreasing its effectiveness as it spends more time.

When to use the AOE?

• If you have had sexual intercourse without using a safe contraceptive method (injectable, pills, condom or other), if the regular method has not been used correctly or if the woman she is not sure of the effectiveness of it
• If you forgot to take birth control pills 3 days in a row
• If there was sliding or condom break
• If the contraceptive injection has not been given quarterly within the term of 4 weeks. In the case of the monthly injection, if you have had delay for more than 7 days in your application
• If you have been the victim of a violation

How does AOE work?

In two ways:

• Prevent or delay ovulation (there is no ovule to fertilize)
• Thick the cervical mucus, preventing the sperm from advancing towards the fallopian tubes.

The use of dosage, regimen and number of pills depends on each brand and the one determined by the gynecologist.

Side effects of emergency oral contraceptives

According to CLAE experts, you may feel temporary discomfort such as nausea, dizziness, vomiting, headache or sinus, and may change the duration of the menstrual cycle.

Something very important: the AOE it only protects from a sexual relationship . If you are sexually active, opt for a regular method of contraception.

The World Health Organization endorses that there is no no contraindication for its use.

Video Medicine: Emergency Contraceptive Pills: How They Work, Safety and Side Effects (April 2024).