The Morning After Pill: About the MAP & Your Experiences

I know this can be a sensitive topic for some people given the debate over the Morning After Pill. However for some women this is a choice they will make and I would like to provide discussion on the topic.

I used to work in a pharmacy, and the pharmacist told me of her good friend, who was on the pill, used a condom for good measure, the condom broke, she took the morning after pill and yet still ended up pregnant. So sometimes you can try and be as safe as possible, but contraception can let you down. So for these women the MAP can be the path they choose to take.

If you would like to share your experiences here that would be great.

I would also like to clearly point out that BellyBelly's position on this is that the MAP is an emergency contraception method only and should not be used as a method of birth control. We are pro choice, no matter what that choice might be. But at the same time we are not intending to promote this as an option, only to exchange experiences.

What is the MAP?

The morning after pill
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2009

Don't panic. If you've forgotten your pill, or the condom has broken, there is something you can do to prevent becoming pregnant. Contact your pharmacy, doctor or local family planning clinic as soon as possible (within 120 hours but the earlier the better).
What is emergency contraception?

There are three methods but in Australia the "progesterone only" method is the most common.

The "progesterone only method".

Two Postinor-2™ pills are taken, which is similar to taking a large quantity of the mini-pill.

The combined pill or Yuzpe method, containing oestrogen and progestogen.
This has been available for decades and is a high dose of "the (combined) pill". It is not used very often now that Postinor-2™ is available as the Yuzpe method tends to make women nauseous and vomiting can occur.

IUD insertion.

It is only used as emergency contraception in special circumstances because usually it is used as a long-term method of contraception. Also, it may not be suitable for some women.

The "progesterone only method".

Emergency contraception should be taken as soon as possible within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse (sex). However, it can be taken up to 120 hours after unprotected intercourse but it is less effective after the 72 hours. It will not cover any pregnancy risk that may have occurred earlier in the menstrual cycle.

Postinor-2™ pills can be taken together or 12 hours apart, depending on the instructions from the provider. The recent World Health Organisation research suggests that it is just as effective taking the two pills at the same time.

Who needs it?

If a woman has had sex with a man and:

* She/they have not used any contraception;
* A diaphragm has dislodged;
* A condom has broken or slipped off;
* She has had inadequate cover on the Pill, e.g. missed pills, or is taking antibiotics, had some diarrhoea or vomiting, without using extra protection;
* "Withdrawal" is used as a "method" of contraception (the man withdraws his penis before he ejaculates/cums inside the vagina. Some of the pre-ejaculatory fluid may contain sperm. Therefore this is an unreliable method).

How does it work?

* By delaying/preventing ovulation;
* By preventing a fertilised egg from implanting in the uterine wall;
* By interrupting the production of hormones needed for pregnancy to continue.

How effective is it?

Postinor-2™ can be 95 percent effective in preventing a pregnancy, if taken in the first 24 hours, and 89 percent effective up to 72 hours. Its ability to prevent a pregnancy decreases over time, especially after 72 hours.

It does not provide any on-going contraception and no protection against sexually transmissible infections (STIs).

Where do I get it?

Postinor-2™ is available from pharmacies without a prescription. Family planning clinics, some hospital casualty departments and some doctors still provide emergency contraception directly.

Side Effects

Some women may have spotting or bleeding within the first week of taking emergency contraception; most women will have their next period within seven days of when it is usually due.

If the combined pill is started after taking emergency contraception, then a period may be delayed.

Research suggests that emergency contraception will not harm a continuing pregnancy.
Nausea and vomiting are uncommon with the Postinor-2™ method. If the combined method is used, anti-nausea tablets should be provided.

Note: If vomiting does occur within two hours of taking a dose of emergency contraception, the dose must be repeated. If no anti-nausea tablet was taken with the first dose, it should be used with the repeat dose.

What happens afterwards?

After taking emergency contraception, you should think about which contraception you would like to use in the future to prevent an unplanned pregnancy. A discussion with your doctor or family planning nurse will provide you with the information you need.
It is important to have a pregnancy test and sexually transmissible infection screen at your doctor, or local family planning clinic. Some STIs do not have symptoms, but they can nonetheless cause long-term complications e.g. infertility. This is why a screen for infections is important. Pregnancy testing should be performed about three weeks after taking the emergency contraception.

Will it affect my monthly period cycle?

After taking the emergency pill, most women's menstrual cycle will remain the same — provided they were successful in taking the medication in time to prevent falling pregnant. About 20 per cent will have an early period and ten per cent a late one.

The combined pill or mini pill can be used for contraception straight after hormonal emergency contraception.

I Just came across this thread and thought id share my experience,

Xp and i used the morning after pill, after the condom broke but it didnt work and i have a beautiful 10 month old baby girl now.. i definently dont think people should rely heavily on the morning after pill from my experience, i was very careful and the slip up i had (not that i would ever change having dd for the world) i was really surprised when i found out i was pregnant as i thought the morning pill was fool proof, so to the people who rely on the morning after pill as contraception, please be more careful and use all the precautions you can.

My partner and I have been together for nearly 12 years, in those 12 years I have taken the MAP on three separate occasions, each and every time it was a matter of condom failure (ie; it broke!) In those days the postinor 2 was not available and it was a case of taking a handfull of pills then another lot 12 hours later, it always made me wretchedly nauseous and as a result would be prescribed stemetil or maxolon at the same time. therefore I would also be dead tired (side effect from the antinausea tabs) also back then I had to make the trip to the doctor and get a RX for it, couldnt just go to the pharmacy and get it.
I also used to work in the dispensary of pharmacies, in the last few years I have come across a few pharmacists who refused to dispense the product, I was curious as to why and only one of them said it was due to her religious beliefs, the others all said that they didnt feel confident dispensing it as they had no product knowledge and just didnt feel comfortable with the whole counselling part of dispensing it.
My old boss was fantastic about it, he would take the patient to a private area and counsel them about how it worked, what to do etc, I never got that kind of treatment with the doctors! so In a way I do feel that in the right hands of the right pharmacist its a good thing that a woman can walk in to a pharmacy and get it, but only with the proper information.