Contraception problems can occur anytime. If you are afraid that your contraception has not worked properly or has not been used correctly or you have had unprotected sex, you can use the morning after pill. The morning after pill can prevent pregnancy after unprotected intercourse.
Morning after pill - crucial pointers at a glance
Do not wait unnecessarily: The sooner you take the emergency contraceptive pill, the safer it is. Depending on the product, you have 72 hours or 120 hours.
Side effects: The emergency contraceptive pill has few side effects and is well tolerated. It is not a "hormone bomb".
Costs It costs between 16 and 35 € depending on the product. You can get hold of the "morning after pill" without a prescription from any pharmacy
There are two different types of morning-after pill. One contains the hormone levonorgestrel (LNG), the other the active ingredient is ulipristal acetate
Both types of the morning after pill work by delaying or preventing ovulation. In this way, the egg and sperm can no longer collide and the egg is not fertilised. The subsequent pill - of whatever type - is no longer effective, if ovulation has already taken place. Then the Emergency coil can still prevent a fertilised egg from being implanted in the uterus. Therefore, a pregnancy cannot be aborted with the morning-after pill.
The morning after pill is only effective for a short time and afterwards. This means that you must use contraception every time you have sexual intercourse as per your cycle, even if you have taken the morning after pill before.
The efficacy of the morning after pill depends on how quickly it is taken and on the day of the woman's cycle. The effectiveness can therefore vary between 59% and 98%.
It is important to know that the effectiveness of the Levonorgestrel pill decreases, if more time has passed since sexual intercourse. It should therefore be taken as soon as possible. It does not work after more than 72 hours after sexual intercourse.
The effect of the morning-after pill with ulipristal acetate is possibly unchanged until five days after sexual intercourse and is therefore a safer choice, in case more time has passed after sexual intercourse.
The morning after pill - no matter which type you choose - has no serious and long-term side effects. You are most likely to experience a change in your cycle.
Nausea, headaches, breast tenderness, dizziness, slight abdominal pain and spotting can also occur in the days following intake. It rarely leads to vomiting in women. Important: If you vomit in the first three hours after taking the morning after pill, you must take the morning after pill again as soon as possible.
The morning after pill may have interactions with other medicines. It is therefore important that you tell your pharmacist or doctor, if you are taking or using any medication.
You can buy the morning after pill without a prescription at a pharmacy.
The cost of the morning after pill varies depending on the product:
| Contents | How long is it applicable | Costs | Available in Germany by the same name | Since when is it available |
Levonorgestrel | 1.5 mg levonorgestrel | 72 hours | 16 – 18.50 € | PiDaNa®, Levonoraristo®, Unofem®Hexal®, Postinor®, Levonorgestrel Stada® | 2000 |
Ulipristal | 30 mg Ulipristal acetate | 120 hours | Approximately 35 € | EllaOne® | 2009 |
If you are 22 years of age or older, you must pay these costs by yourself.
If you are under 22 years of age, you can get the morning after pill free of charge, if you obtain a prescription from a doctor in advance and go to a pharmacy with it. Between the ages of 18 and 21, however, you will have to pay a prescription fee of €5.
Personal counselling
If you want to know more or have questions, please contact a doctor or a pro familia counselling centre.
Doctors, social workers, psychologists and pedagogues shall be at your disposal as contact persons.
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