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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think women should be told this about the morning after pill?

380 replies

christmaselfie1 · 21/12/2020 15:52

The morning after pill is directly linked to ovulation, and if you have already ovulated then it is pretty much pointless!

I had sex where the condom split on Monday last week, but due to covid restrictions and living rurally I was not able to get the morning after pill until Friday (4 days after sex). I have taken Ellaone before, the brand that you can take up to 5 days after, so assumed that all would be okay. I am also tracking my cycles on the instruction of my gynaecologist because I suffer with ovarian cysts.

I got my LH surge and a positive ovulation test on Wednesday morning, which means ovulation would have occurred imminently, most likely well before I took the morning after pill on Friday evening!

Since researching, I have discovered that the morning after pill works by delaying or preventing ovulation. Therefore, if you have already ovulated, and the sperm happened to meet the egg in that time, the morning after pill has pretty much zero effect! You can read it yourself on the manufacturers website...

www.ellaone.co.uk/faqs/does-ellaone-work-if-youve-already-ovulated

I have taken the morning after pill three times and I have never been told this by any pharmacist. I have never been informed on how it works, just that is it effective up to 5 days after unprotected sex. The only emergency contraception that works in these circumstances is the IUD. I have now got the worry for the next week that I might be pregnant.

Am I the only person that had no idea how the morning after pill works?!

OP posts:
TrufflyPig · 23/12/2020 12:08

I agree completely yellowwhiteshoes, having read the whole thread I'm pretty shocked. Will circulate it to my pharmacy friends.

Another worry about self selection is the whole enzyme inducing meds thing, some women may not be aware that a single dose won't be effective for them.

I also still cannot belive there is a religious exemption for provision too, makes me so mad.

yellowwhiteshoes · 23/12/2020 12:29

@TrufflyPig yes there are so many things to consider that patients may not realise. Interactions, glucocorticoid treated asthma, weight, use of other hormone therapy within this cycle which may reduce effectiveness of the chosen EHC etc etc. It's such a difficult balance between making sure that a woman has access to what she needs in a timely manner (and I am a woman that has also been in that situation), but making sure she has had the level of counselling to ensure what she has is right for her. And like you I haven't read the full thread but it doesn't fill me with confidence to be honest.

yellowwhiteshoes · 23/12/2020 12:30

@TrufflyPig apologies, I thought you said you hadn't read the whole thread.

Localocal · 23/12/2020 13:19

I did not know this and I think you are quite right, OP. The pharmacist who dispensed this to you should have gone over this with you before giving it to you. That's the point of it being dispensed by them and not just sitting on a shelf - they are supposed to advise you about it as an expert.

You need to get an emergency appointment with your GP and discuss your options with him/her. I'm sorry you are going through this.

Yeahnahmum · 23/12/2020 13:30

Come on op. You know that when you point your finger there are 3 fingers pointing right back at you right. .

Original poster
christmaselfie1 · 23/12/2020 13:43

@Yeahnahmum As others have pointed out, why isn't this medicine available over the counter if we're all expected to know how it works, read leaflets and research it ourselves. It's because pharmacists are meant to give guidance. There are protocols that should have been followed but clearly haven't been in my case, or in the cases of lots of other women.

OP posts:
TrufflyPig · 23/12/2020 13:48

@yellowwhiteshoes I hadn't at first, went back and read it. Didn't make for comfortable reading.

Janek · 23/12/2020 14:03

Thanks for posting OP, I didn't know this, but I will most certainly be mentioning it to my tutor group when we do sex education next term.

I took it twenty years ago, so presumably got my information then, but I would definitely have read the leaflet had there been one. I do remember they tried to give me an appointment for a few days time, but I was going away so could only do that day - I thought at the time that they were playing fast and loose with my conceiving-potential. Looks like I was right!

SallyB392 · 23/12/2020 20:19

I'm going to try to not be judgemental here, but I find it incredibly sad that your attitude to contraception is so poor that you need to rely on the morning after pill not once but three times.

Can I suggest that you consider purchasing or obtaining from the contraceptive clinic more reliable forms of contraception. If as you say the m o ring after pill is so unreliable as a fall back, is abortion the next option. You need to take more responsibility.

Original poster
christmaselfie1 · 23/12/2020 20:37

@SallyB392 I am not able to take hormonal contraception on the instruction of my gynaecologist. This has been mentioned many times throughout the thread. There are also a number of women who cannot or do not want to take hormonal contraception for a variety of reasons. These women shouldn't be penalised for having condom malfunctions etc.

Three times in the span of 10 years. Once when I was incredibly young and the condom slipped, once when I had norovirus and was on the contraceptive pill (about 4 years ago) and another last week due to the condom splitting. Is that okay with you?

OP posts:
FestiveStuffing · 23/12/2020 20:42

I'm going to try to not be judgemental here, but [insert incredibly judgemental comment here]

Love it. Along the same lines as, 'No offence but [offensive statement]' Adding a disclaimer doesn't free your statements from judgement/offence.

FestiveStuffing · 23/12/2020 20:44

Oh, and OP, you are allowed to get the levonelle pill in advance. I store one in my medicine cupboard as a just in case so I can access it immediately if needed. Just pay the £30 in the pharmacy and they can hand it over.

Original poster
christmaselfie1 · 23/12/2020 20:46

@FestiveStuffing Thank you. I am going to purchase one to keep at home, just in case I might need it in the future.

OP posts:
Stace99 · 23/12/2020 20:58

I was told 75%. I took it less than 24hrs after. I was 14 days in to my cycle though when we had the accident. (cycle varies between 30-33 days) I usually start ovulating 10/11 days in to my cycle. The pill didn’t work for me. I didn’t realise that it didn’t work after ovulation either. Husbands now currently waiting to get the snip! 🤣 x

Original poster
christmaselfie1 · 23/12/2020 21:01

@Stace99 Was that with Levonelle or Ellaone? x

OP posts:
Stace99 · 23/12/2020 21:07

[quote christmaselfie1]@Stace99 Was that with Levonelle or Ellaone? x[/quote]
It was Ellaone. x

(Last comment was supposed to be posted as a reply) New to commenting on here lol. x

Funneth · 23/12/2020 21:26

Thinking of you OP as our situation is similar at the moment (I mentioned mine further back in the thread having taken MAP the other day on the day my cycle calendar tracker reckons was ovulation day). I hope you're doing OK and not too worried. At least we are now well aware of the weakness of this emergency contraception, knowledge is power.

FlumpetCrumpet · 23/12/2020 21:35

I'm going to try to not be judgemental here, but I find it incredibly sad that your attitude to contraception is so poor that you need to rely on the morning after pill not once but three times.

And I find it incredibly sad that someone might be having so little sex that 3 contraceptive failures over the complete length of time that a person is sexually active in their lifetime would be seen as a significant percentage of their sexual encounters. But I try not to judge

OutComeTheWolves · 23/12/2020 22:07

@SallyB392

I'm going to try to not be judgemental here, but I find it incredibly sad that your attitude to contraception is so poor that you need to rely on the morning after pill not once but three times.

Can I suggest that you consider purchasing or obtaining from the contraceptive clinic more reliable forms of contraception. If as you say the m o ring after pill is so unreliable as a fall back, is abortion the next option. You need to take more responsibility.

I've also had it three times. I don't know how old the op is but I'm in my forties. That averages out one contraceptive failure a decade. I wouldn't worry yourself too much!
Original poster
christmaselfie1 · 23/12/2020 22:16

@Stace99 Thank you for confirming. I've spoken to DP and we've accepted the situation for what it is, we will know in a couple of days. I have had continuous back pain since Sunday, which I had with both of my previous pregnancies, so I am not feeling too hopeful that it has worked.

@Funneth Hope everything works out for you Flowers

OP posts:
Unicornflakegirl · 23/12/2020 23:17

@SallyB392

I'm going to try to not be judgemental here, but I find it incredibly sad that your attitude to contraception is so poor that you need to rely on the morning after pill not once but three times.

Can I suggest that you consider purchasing or obtaining from the contraceptive clinic more reliable forms of contraception. If as you say the m o ring after pill is so unreliable as a fall back, is abortion the next option. You need to take more responsibility.

You'll need to try a bit harder Sally! Hmm

It's better to take the MAP than bury your head or cross your fingers.

Yes for many people abortion is the next option, so what?
Access to reliable emergency contraception should reduce that necessity, whether the emergency contraception is a pill or an IUD.

SmileyClare · 24/12/2020 07:52

It's a bit off topic but it's very rare for a woman to report feeling implantation and there is no definite medical explanation for it. We're talking about a few microscopic cells. It could be due to a slight increase in progesterone causing "cramping" feelings but the MAP contains high levels of this hormone so it could easily be a symptom of what you've taken.

Your backache could be a red herring and I wouldn't worry too much that it's a symptom of pregnancy less than a week after sex. It could also be a symptom of cyst rupture and will ease after a day or two.

I hope you're able to relax and enjoy Christmas Op anyway Op. Smile

SmileyClare · 24/12/2020 08:09

Whoops too many "ops" in my last post! Can I also add that taking the MAP will not harm a foetus should you be pregnant, if that was one of your concerns.

SmellsLikeAHamsterCage · 24/12/2020 09:04

I had no idea!!

I remember at school being taught that it stops a fertilised egg being implanted. This was over 20 years ago though, so hopefully schools now explain how it actually works.

And yes, the pharmacist should have told you!

blackfriars · 24/12/2020 10:18

I got pregnant after taking the MAP within 6 hours of sex for this reason! I wish this was more clearly publicised.