Emergency contraception: top five facts
Whether the condom slipped your mind or off the penis, it’s usually followed by some frantic calculations (‘could I be fertile right now?’) and a rush to the pharmacy in search of a ‘morning-after pill’.
But there are many options, so don’t panic.
E-pill
The emergency pill, or e-pill, is available over the counter in Kenya which means you can go straight to the pharmacy without a doctor’s prescription to get it. The e-pill is very effective in preventing pregnancies after unprotected sex, if you take it as soon as possible.
With some brands, you take one pill; with others, you will have to take two, 12-hours apart. Check with the pharmacist or a healthcare professional for the right instructions.
Some women have side-effects like nausea and vomiting when they take the e-pill. Also, it could have an effect on the timing of your next period.
The e-pill is not a normal contraception method. You should take it only in case of emergency.When to take the e-pill
The sooner the e-pill is taken after unprotected sex the more effective it is. Depending on which brand and hormone you use, the e-pill can still be effective if you take it 72 hours or even 120 hours after sex.
Many health care providers even suggested getting an emergency pill and keeping it at home just in case. Because it’s more effective if it’s taken as soon as possible after you had unprotected sex. And it saves that rushed trip out of the house to find an open pharmacy in the middle of the night or on the weekend. By the way, keeping e-pills at home doesn’t mean you are more likely to have unprotected sex, studies found.Is the e-pill an abortion pill?
No. The e-pill is not an abortion pill. The e-pill works in various ways, but can’t do anything if an egg is already fertilized. If you take the e-pill before ovulation, the e-pill tricks your body into thinking that ovulation has already happened, so it delays ovulation. It also thickens the mucus on your cervix, making it hard for sperm to get into the womb. That way it stops you from getting pregnant.
If you already are pregnant and take the e-pill, it will have no negative effects on your pregnancy. However, the low dose (100 mg) of the abortion pill ‘mifepristone’ can also be taken as emergency contraception. You should check with a healthcare provider before taking it though.IUDs as emergency contraception
Another very effective method of emergency contraception is fitting a Copper-T IUD, also known as the ‘coil’. Actually, it’s the most effective form of emergency contraception. Even if it’s inserted five days after intercourse, it’s still 99.9 per cent effective, says Planned Parenthood. You need to see a doctor though to have it put in place, and depending on where you live, it can be a bit pricey.
And it has another big advantage: the Copper-T (Paragard) can stay in a woman’s body for up to 10 years afterwards as a normal and super-effective birth control method.The Yuzpe-method
You can also take some brands of combined oral contraceptives (‘the pill’) in higher doses. This is called the Yuzpe-method. But because the side-effects are high and it’s not very effective, you should look into other methods rather than this one. Even taking higher doses of progestogen-only pills (‘the mini-pill’) is more effective than the Yuzpe-method, but can also have lots of side-effects.
There is a catch though – if you have been taking the pill regularly before, taking the same pill in higher doses may not be very effective as emergency contraception. So you should talk to a healthcare provider before using the Yuzpe method.
And, just as with the e-pill, the Yuzpe-method should only be used in case of emergency, not as a normal way of birth control.
Do you want to share your experiences with emergency contraception. Leave a comment below or join the discussion on Facebook.
Tell us what you think
Recent Comments (68)
I need bitrtj control but can
I need bitrtj control but can’t afford it help
Hi Lu,
Hi Lu,
government clinics in Kenya provide free birth control.
One of the cheapest, long lasting options for you could be a copper-T IUD. Even with private doctors, you can get them for as little as KSH 800 and they will provide you with several years of protection against pregnancy. Please talk to a healthcare provider, they will be able to discuss options that are affordable and suitable with you. Good luck!
after taking the e pill is it
after taking the e pill is it amust one should receive menstrual periods after 3 to 4 days.
Hi Petronila,
Hi Petronila,
no, it’s not a must. Because of the high hormone dose, your period can either be delayed, on time or early- all is normal.
That was educative…thanx
That was educative…thanx
Hi Linda,
Hi Linda,
we are so glad to hear that! Keep coming back for more information!
Can epills make one never to…
Can epills make one never to conceive
Hi Nancy, thank you for…
Hi Nancy, thank you for getting in touch with us and asking a great question. Contrary to a popular myth, the pill has no negative impact on fertility. However, it is easy to understand why there are myths about birth control pills causing infertility as some women experience a delay in resuming ovulation and menses following prolonged birth control use.
How much does e-pills cost e
How much does e-pills cost e.g postinol 2? Or any other cheaper but effective brand.
Hi Jimmy,
Hi Jimmy,
generally between 150 and 300 Ksh.
Hi Jimmy, the costs of e…
Hi Jimmy, the costs of e-pills can vary from pharmacy to pharmacy but are generally quite affordable, the best thing to do is visit your nearest pharmacy to find out.
Is it adviceable for young
Is it adviceable for young ladies jst between 20-30 yrs to use thz copper T iuD?
Hi Henry, the copper T IUD is
Hi Henry, the copper T IUD is a good option for ladies in this age range, too!
Is it gwd if i dnt use any
Is it gwd if i dnt use any kind of birthcontrol bt use the e-pill each time i hav unprotected sex?
Hi Gladys,
Hi Gladys,
unless you only have sex once every few years, no! The emergency pill is for emergencies only. The high hormone count can really mess with your body, so please find another method that works for you!
Thank you for your continued
Thank you for your continued advice. About the IUD, what are time frames in terms of years, if you want to get pregnant immediately may be after 3mnths after insertion, is it possible? ,
Hi Rose,
Hi Rose,
yes, it is. It might take a bit longer than if you hadn’t used it, but it won’t affect it much.
Hi, this is my second time am
Hi, this is my second time am using the coil. I can testify,it is very effective, and when i wanted to hv my 2nd baby i conceived immediately
Ah, thanks for sharing,
Ah, thanks for sharing, Redempta!
Hi, I want to concieve please
Hi, I want to concieve please help me out. Am married for 2yrs nw but no issue.
Hi Amina,
Hi Amina,
check out this section on our website: http://lovematters.co.ke/resource/pregnancy
let us know if it doesn’t answer all your questions regarding pregnancy.
E-pils have being the most
E-pils have being the most popular tablet which one can afford,please do educate people more instead of them getting unwantd pregnancies which they later abort the e-pil is better than aborting,if yo must have unprotected sex
Hi Locky, the e-pill may be
Hi Locky, the e-pill may be better than abortions, but there are far better birth control methods! The e-pill should only be for emergencies.
E-pils have being the most
E-pils have being the most popular tablet which one can afford,please do educate people more instead of them getting unwantd pregnancies which they later abort the e-pil is better than aborting,if yo must have unprotected sex
Are there contraceptives for
Are there contraceptives for men?
Hi Mary,
Hi Mary,
other than condoms, there is only vasectomies. That means that a man will not be able to have babies anymore at all
Can epills affect ur menses
Can epills affect ur menses forever.?! Does prolonged use lower its effectiveness?! Can IUCD hav an effect wen used by somebody who has never conceived before?
Hi Peshy,
Hi Peshy,
no, not forever, but the next one or two. No, but isn’t good for your body. No, IUDs can be used in women who never had a baby before.
nyc n true facts,thank u
nyc n true facts,thank u
You are most welcome!
You are most welcome!
nyc n true facts,thank u
nyc n true facts,thank u
wat could be the cause of
wat could be the cause of having ur menses lasting for more than a week with abdominal pains? is this really normal?
Hi Precious,
Hi Precious,
does that happen more than once?
many women fear the coil….
many women fear the coil…..can u expand on whether its painfull during its insertion or whether your spouse feels it when having sex…hw comfortable is it?
Hey Denoo,
Hey Denoo,
the name of the coil is also IUD, standing for intrauterine device. That means it’s in the uterus, not the vagina, so a man won’t feel it during intercourse. The insertion isn’t pleasant, but it is over within a few seconds.
incase you take an emerency
incase you take an emerency pill and is like you were safe during the act may be you didnt know is it wrong or can it affect you?
Hi Linet,
Hi Linet,
no, it won’t affect you any differently if you had safe sex. But, why would you take the e-pill if you had safe sex?
Have learnt alot, thanx en
Have learnt alot, thanx en keep it up!
You are very welcome!
You are very welcome!
if epils r taken after 10hrs
if epils r taken after 10hrs can it still be effective
Hi there,
Hi there,
yes, e-pills are most effective if taken within the first 24 hours after unprotected sex.
using e pills many tims more
using e pills many tims more than ten a year wil it affect your fertility
Hi there,
Hi there,
in general, it shouldn’t. However, taking this many hormones certainly isn’t healthy, and should be avoided!
Can the e-pill at times stop
Can the e-pill at times stop working if you’ve taken it after having unprotected sex to some people?
Hi Linda,
Hi Linda,
yes, that’s possible. The e-pill only works if the egg hasn’t been fertilized yet. If it has already been fertilized, then the e-pill won’t work.
That’s why it needs to be taken as soon as possible after the unprotected intercourse.
Another method that works extremely reliably until about 5 days after the unprotected sex is having a copper-T IUD placed by a doctor. Another plus- it will protect you from pregnancies for the next 10 years!
Can e-pill at times fail to
Can e-pill at times fail to work
Can the e-pill fail to work
Can the e-pill fail to work at some point
Hi Gloria,
Hi Gloria,
yes, that’s possible. The e-pill only works if the egg hasn’t been fertilized yet. If it has already been fertilized, then the e-pill won’t work.
That’s why it needs to be taken as soon as possible after the unprotected intercourse.
Another method that works extremely reliably until about 5 days after the unprotected sex is having a copper-T IUD placed by a doctor. Another plus- it will protect you from pregnancies for the next 10 years!
Nyc topic
Ave learnt alot
Nyc topic
Ave learnt alot
We are glad to hear that!
We are glad to hear that!
I had unprotected sex with my
I had unprotected sex with my hubby on my safe days, but then I took the spill after every encouter. After exactly 15days I again had an encounter with him and took the first spill on the 61st hour and the second one after 11 hours since the 72 hours was elapsing.. Again the last sex was during my safe days using my normal calender. My periods is almost 5days late. Am worried. Could I be pregnant,, could my ovulation days be delayed way too far?
Taking that many e-pills does
Taking that many e-pills does mean that your hormonal balance is taking a huge beating!
Let’s start at the beginning: you need to choose a better birth control method, because there is no such thing as safe days. Yes, in a cycle there are a few days where the risk of pregnancy is low, but it’s difficult to determine when these days are due to cycle length and regularity of your cycle.
The ‘e’ in e-pill stands for ’emergency’. Because of the large amounts of hormones, they should be used in case of emergency only. Taking them three, four, five times a month is really not good for your body. And taking one 61 hours after you had sex means that it might have not worked very well. They are most effective within the first 24 hours.
So yes, you could be pregnant, or your body has just taken a beating from the hormones. Take a pregnancy test. And if it’s negative, please look into better birth control methods.
is it advisable to use the e
is it advisable to use the e pills b4 sex?
Val,
Val,
no, absolutely not. The ‘e’ stands for emergency. E-pills should only be taken in case your actual contraception fails, like a burst condom or a forgotten pill.
So please look into other reliable birth control measures and take the e pills only if there is no other way.
if i use iud…..am i suppose
if i use iud…..am i suppose to use epills after unprotected sex …..and if i want to be pregnant can i ..and does it have side effects in future…or any other effects…and how costly is it???
Mary,
Mary,
IUDs will protect you from unplanned pregnancies for up to 10 years, depending on the type. So you won’t need e-pills anymore.
But they can be removed at any point if you want to get pregnant. Have a look here:
https://lovematters.co.ke/resource/iuds
can continous use of epills
can continous use of epills make one barren ir have in future
Mary,
Mary,
no, it won’t affect your ability to get pregnant, but the high amount of hormones in the pills are not healthy for your body.
de quantity of blood dat
de quantity of blood dat flows during my menses reduced ever since i took in an e-pill. shld i visit de hospital abt dat pls?
Posh,
Posh,
is it more like spotting now? How long has this been going on?
Tanx for the advice on the e
Tanx for the advice on the e-pill
(No subject)
You are welcome, Samwine.
I took one pill and forgot…
I took one pill and forgot to take the second one. Am I really protected?
Hi there, the pill may or…
Hi there, the pill may or may not work, for emergency contraception pill to two, one has to follow the instruction including taking the pill when one should. Have a look at the following article;- https://lovemattersafrica.com/birth-control/types-of-birth-control/is-one-emergency-pill-enough
I used two tablets each dose…
I used two tablets each dose last year October, Jan,and Feb …can I be able to conceive?
Hi Nancy, thank you for…
Hi Nancy, thank you for getting in touch and asking a great question. The effects of E-pills are not permanent and you can definitely conceive if you want to. Do you want to want to get pregnant?
I had unprotected sex on my…
I had unprotected sex on my most fertile dates, could I be pregnant
Hello Wanja, thank you for…
Hello Wanja, thank you for getting in touch and asking a great question. If you had unprotected sex while on your most fertile days, then yes, there is a very good chance that you may be pregnant. The best way to know for sure is to get a pregnancy test to confirm. Please keep us posted and have a wonderful week ahead. Stay safe!