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emergency contraception

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As of July 1, changes to the General Medical Card Scheme in Ireland meant that the morning after pill became available in pharmacies for women with a medical card, without a prescription.

Considering this change, ellaOne, an emergency contraceptive pill that is available from pharmacies without a prescription, has sought to clarify any confusion which still surrounds emergency contraception.

So, without further ado, here are five things you should know about emergency contraception.

1. There is more than one type of emergency contraception available.

There are two forms of emergency contraception that can be used after unprotected sex to prevent pregnancy. These are the morning after pill and the emergency IUD – also known as ‘the emergency coil’.

When it comes to the morning after pill – you have a choice of two different pills – containing either ulipristal acetate (ellaOne®) or levonorgestrel.

You should speak to a healthcare professional about the various treatments available and the differences in effectiveness to ensure you are informed about your options and can make a choice based on what is most suitable for you.

2. You don’t need a doctor’s appointment.

If you need emergency contraception you can head straight to the pharmacy to get the morning after pill after a quick consultation with the pharmacist – you don’t need to get a prescription from your doctor.

However, if you are more comfortable speaking to your GP, it is  possible to go down this route too.

3. It works by delaying ovulation.

The morning after pill does not cause an ‘emergency period’ or an abortion, it actually works by delaying egg release (ovulation).

This means that the sperm waiting in the fallopian tubes will be unable to meet an egg and fertilise it.

This is similar to regular contraceptive pills, which mostly work by preventing egg release. If you are already pregnant, emergency contraception will not interrupt your pregnancy.

4. Your fertility can come back very quickly after using the morning after pill.

Emergency contraception has no effect on future fertility.

It will not protect you from pregnancy if you have unprotected sex again several days after taking it.

If you want to have sex after using emergency contraception, use a barrier method of contraception until your next period.

5. You don’t have to take it the morning after.

Although oral emergency contraceptive pills must be taken as soon as possible after unprotected sex, don’t panic if you haven’t been able to get it immediately.

ellaOne (ulipristal acetate) can be taken within five days (120 hours) of unprotected sex and levonorgestrel containing emergency contraceptive pills can be taken within 3 days (72 hours) of unprotected sex.

Both pills work by preventing or delaying ovulation and must therefore be taken as soon as possible as they are not effective if ovulation has already taken place.

The emergency IUD can be inserted up to five days after unprotected sex or up to five days after the earliest time you could have ovulated.

 

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Emergency contraception is one of those things we don't really think about until we actually need to use it, and that's something that needs to change.

The morning-after pill has been available over-the-counter in Ireland since 2011, but many of us are still unclear about what it does and how effective it is.

Unfortunately, not every broken condom or missed pill is going to conveniently happen during standard pharmacy opening hours, so it's important to wise up on what's available to you before something goes wrong.

We sat down with GP Dr. Eleanor Galvin of Rosemount Family Doctors to find out exactly what you need to know…

1. How long is the morning-after pill effective for?
Emergency contraception can be used anywhere up to 120 hours (5 days) after unprotected sex, depending on the brand of pill taken, but Dr. Galvin stresses that the sooner it is taken, the better. "When taken within the first 24 hours, the morning-after pill can be 95% effective, but that drops to around 75% and then to 60% the longer you wait," she says.

2. What types of emergency contraception are available here – and what's the difference?
There are three main brands of morning-after pill sold in the Republic of Ireland, NorLevo, Prevenelle and ellaOne. While they all serve the same purpose, ellaOne is the only one effective beyond three days, and it is also the only one recommended for women over 12 stone, explains Dr. Galvin. 

3. Are there any age restrictions for the morning-after pill?
"The age of consent [for sexual activity] in the Republic of Ireland is 17, so technically you should be over that age if you wish to obtain emergency contraception without parental consent," explains Dr. Galvin. However she recommends that you visit a pharmacy, clinic or doctor regardless of age, to find out what your options are.

4. If I've missed a Pill and had unprotected sex, do I need to use emergency contraception?
"If you are unsure about whether or not you need emergency contraception, it is important to consult a doctor or pharmacist," says Dr. Galvin. "Sometimes I meet women who have only missed their Pill by a few hours and so may not need emergency contraception. But if there is any doubt, it is better to err on the side of caution."

5.  How safe is the morning-after pill and can I take it more than once?
"From a medical perspective, the morning-after pill is extremely safe," explains Dr. Galvin. Using emergency contraception repeatedly (even more than once a month) will not cause any health or fertility issues, but it is important to note that the more you rely on emergency contraception, the less effective it becomes over time. “We definitely do not suggest using the morning-after pill in place of standard contraception,” Dr. Galvin says. "But health-wise, they safe, and contain hormones that naturally occur in the body." 

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