Emergency Contraceptive Pills

The "morning after pill" is a type of emergency contraceptive that is used to lessen the odds of conceiving a child. There are several different brands of pills available; some need to be taken right away while others can be taken up to five days later.

Women who have experienced unprotected sex take emergency contraceptives in situations where their method of birth control may have failed; a contraceptive device such as an IUD coming out of place, missed regular birth control pills, a condom that breaks during intercourse and those that were raped or forced to have sex.

Emergency contraceptive pills contain the same hormones that are commonly found in the oral contraceptives that millions of women take each day to prevent pregnancy. These pills stop or interrupt the cycle of the egg from being released from the ovary. If you are already pregnant these pills will not eliminate the pregnancy and should not be confused with the "RU-486" pill which eliminates pregnancy.

Most of the side effects of the pill vanish within twenty-four hours for most women. These effects include; tender breasts, dizziness, abdominal pain or cramping, headache, nausea, unexpected bleeding and a period that is either a few days late or early. Patients should always contact a doctor if they are experiencing additional side effects or effects that are severe.

Services all over New England.