Morning-After Pill Snellville, GA
You may have heard of emergency contraception, often referred to as “the morning-after pill”. Emergency contraception is a term used for medications taken after unprotected sex with the intent to prevent pregnancy. There are generic brands of emergency contraception available, but the most common brand names are Plan B One-Step and ella.
They are two different types of medications.
Emergency contraception works in different ways to prevent pregnancy, depending on which medication is used and the time during the menstrual cycle that it is taken. These medications may stop or delay ovulation and change the quality of the cervical mucus. They may also affect the lining of the uterus making the newly fertilized egg unable to implant and grow.
When pregnancy is stopped in this way it could be considered an abortion.
Emergency contraception may prevent pregnancy following unprotected sex, but it can fail even when used correctly, offers no protection from STDs, and should not be used for routine birth control. The morning-after pill is not the same as the abortion pill.
Certain medications such as barbiturates or herbs like St. John’s Wort can reduce the effectiveness of the morning-after pill. There is some evidence that the morning-after pill is less effective for women who are overweight or obese.
If you have questions about the morning-after pill and live near Snellville, GA we are here to help you. We’re just a phone call or a text away.
Plan B One-Step (Levonorgestrel)
Plan B One-Step is one of the types of emergency contraception also referred to as the morning-after pill. It is intended to prevent pregnancy after a known or suspected contraceptive failure, unprotected intercourse, or forced sex. It contains large amounts of levonorgestrel, a progestin hormone found in some birth control pills. Depending on when during your cycle that you take it, Plan B One-Step may work by either preventing or delaying ovulation, or by interfering with the fertilization of an egg. It may also prevent implantation of a fertilized egg in the uterus by altering the lining of the uterus. Some consider this the earliest form of abortion.
Plan B One-Step consists of one pill taken up to 72 hours after sex. If taken within 72 hours, levonorgestrel can reduce the risk of pregnancy by up to 89%. It is reported to be up to 95% effective if taken within 24 hours. It is not as effective as regular contraception and should not be used as routine birth control.
Side effects may include changes in your period, nausea, lower abdominal pain, fatigue, headache, breast tenderness, and dizziness. If you do not get your period within 3-4 weeks, you should take a pregnancy test. Do not take Plan B One Step if you suspect you may already be pregnant. It will not stop the development of a baby that is already growing in the uterus.
It is possible that Plan B One-Step use may increase the risk for ectopic (tubal) pregnancy, a potentially life-threatening condition. Women who have severe abdominal pain may have an ectopic (tubal) pregnancy and should seek immediate medical attention.
Other brands of levonorgestrel emergency contraception are Next Choice One Dose, My Way, Aftera, and others.
ella (Ulipristal)
ella is an FDA-approved emergency contraceptive for use within 5 days of unprotected sex or contraceptive failure, which is why it is sometimes referred to as “the week after pill.”
ella is not available over the counter. It is by prescription only.
Pregnancy from a previous sexual encounter should be ruled out before taking ella. It is to be used only once during a menstrual cycle and should not be used while breastfeeding.
ella may reduce the chance of pregnancy by preventing or postponing ovulation. It also may work by preventing a fertilized egg from implanting in the uterus, which is a very early abortion. Ulipristal has similar biological effects to mifepristone, which is the abortion pill. Both share the progesterone-blocking effect of disrupting the embryo’s attachment to the womb.
The most common adverse reactions of ella include headache, nausea, stomach (abdominal) pain, menstrual cramps, fatigue, and dizziness. Women who experience abdominal pain 3 to 5 weeks after using ella should be evaluated by a physician right away for an ectopic pregnancy.
Obria Medical Clinics near Snellville does not offer the morning-after pill (Plan B One Step or ella). The information on this page should be viewed as educational in nature only and not substituted for professional and/or medical advice. You can call us to discuss your situation with our trained staff.
Sources:
“Morning-after Pill.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 8 June 2018, https://mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/morning-after-pill/about/pac-20394730.
Kaymak, Oktay et al. “Ectopic pregnancy following levonorgestrel emergency contraception: a case report.” Journal of the Turkish German Gynecological Association vol. 11,3 168-9. 1 Sep. 2010, doi:10.5152/jtgga.2010.29
A New Drug for Emergency Contraception: But Not in … https://chausa.org/docs/default-source/hceusa/ethical_currents—summer-2010.pdf?sfvrsn=2.
Levonorgestrel is a hormone that can be used for emergency contraception. Emergency contraception should not be used as a routine method of birth control. “Plan B (Morning-After Pill): Effectiveness and Side Effects.” WebMD, WebMD, https://webmd.com/sex/birth-control/plan-b.
Obria Medical Clinics
565 Old Norcross Road, Suite 200
Lawrenceville, GA 30046
Call or Text: 770-338-1680
Snellville is a city in Gwinnett County, Georgia, United States, east of Atlanta. The population was 18,242 at the census, and in 2015 the estimated population was 19,733.
Morning After Pill 30017, 30078, 30039