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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:
OppsUpsSide · 24/12/2020 10:25

I also didn’t know this and wasn’t told and fell pregnant. On the plus side I am so very glad now as to how it worked out (was horrified at the time though), but that’s not really the point.

Mercury5000 · 24/12/2020 13:14

I had a MAP in approx 1996 - it might have been Schering PC4 as from a quick google it looks as if Levonelle was not yet authorised for use in the UK. I was told by the GP that it created a hostile environment for the fertilised egg and stopped implantation and was like a very early abortion pill. The GP made me feel bad about taking it. I did take it but felt bad about it for years...

SallyB392 · 25/12/2020 09:09

There are other options to hormonal contraception; what about the cap coupled with gels or condoms, or the coil for starters. Even condoms with anti spermicidal gels would help.

I'm old fashioned maybe, but there are so many options available that I find it hard to understand the use of the morning after or abortions as contraception. Don't get me wrong, I accept that the morning after and abortion pills do have their place, I've even helped a youngster access them, but these were exceptional circumstances.

As for OP, you can't use hormonal contraceptives? So what is the morning after pill? Sugar?

TheFormerPorpentinaScamander · 25/12/2020 09:26

There's some nice festive judgment from Sally! I can't take hormonal contraception either. A once in a blue moon MAP isn't really the same though as taking something every day!

yetanothernamitynamechange · 25/12/2020 10:56

@TheFormerPorpentinaScamander Exactly! In fact when I have taked the MAP the effects have been dreadful (weeping in bed for a day) but you think its worth it to avoid pregnancy. Which just makes it even more annoying to find out on at least one occassion it would have done fuck all anyway. And pretty much all of the people sharing stories on here had comdoms as the first defence. So saying "what about other forms of contraception" is moronic.
Even when I go skydiving I only have 2 parachutes. I would be pissed of if I found out my (expensive) reserve parachute had been swapped with laundry.

Stace99 · 25/12/2020 21:09

@SallyB392

There are other options to hormonal contraception; what about the cap coupled with gels or condoms, or the coil for starters. Even condoms with anti spermicidal gels would help.

I'm old fashioned maybe, but there are so many options available that I find it hard to understand the use of the morning after or abortions as contraception. Don't get me wrong, I accept that the morning after and abortion pills do have their place, I've even helped a youngster access them, but these were exceptional circumstances.

As for OP, you can't use hormonal contraceptives? So what is the morning after pill? Sugar?

How can you even put the morning after pill and abortion in the same category. If the morning after pill delays ovulation, how can that be the same as terminating a fetus with a heartbeat. A lot of people can’t take hormonal contraception on a regular basis, me included. I like many are happy using condoms which are 98% days effective (when used properly) the pill which is 99% per defective (when taken/used properly) not much difference. So how is that using the morning after pill as contraception?
Stace99 · 25/12/2020 21:12

Really should have proof read my last comment properly!

ignore the “days”

“effective” ( not per defective)

yetanothernamitynamechange · 26/12/2020 14:23

@Stace99 Now, now she was generous enough to acknoweldge morning after pills "have their place", so I suppose we should be grateful she allows us that, even if we are incredibly feckless to even need it

SmellsLikeAHamsterCage · 26/12/2020 15:40

@SallyB392

There are other options to hormonal contraception; what about the cap coupled with gels or condoms, or the coil for starters. Even condoms with anti spermicidal gels would help.

I'm old fashioned maybe, but there are so many options available that I find it hard to understand the use of the morning after or abortions as contraception. Don't get me wrong, I accept that the morning after and abortion pills do have their place, I've even helped a youngster access them, but these were exceptional circumstances.

As for OP, you can't use hormonal contraceptives? So what is the morning after pill? Sugar?

The OP says she uses condoms! She doesn't say she uses the MAP as contraception! Read her posts and you will see the condom failed.
Goatscheesewithhoney · 26/12/2020 18:43

I has it explained to me, and the pharmacies explained that, based on the dates, I’d be better having an coil fitted at an emergency apt. That was a couple of years ago.

Goatscheesewithhoney · 26/12/2020 18:46

*pharmacist. This was once. Not my experience in several different pharmacies Blush

Mackymacmacface · 27/12/2020 19:53

Hoping you get the outcome you desire. Thanks also for educating us on the MAP

FTMF30 · 28/12/2020 08:23

Any news @christmaselfie1?

DownyEmerald · 28/12/2020 13:34

V late to this, but I had no idea until I needed it and researched it. But thinking about it I realised that otherwise it would be an abortion pill, and God forbid we would be allowed relatively easy access to those. Hmm
Glad I know now - I can tell my daughter not to rely on it.
Hope OP is ok

Tessabelle74 · 28/12/2020 13:45

I have no idea when I'm ovulating and I suspect most women won't so yes, they should explain it but that information is pretty much useless unless you're tracking your ovulation.

Tessabelle74 · 28/12/2020 13:49

Posted too soon! So with that information in mind, maybe the morning after pill should be offered in conjunction with the IUD?

CharlotteRose90 · 28/12/2020 13:57

Yep I was told this by the nurse and also by the pharmacy issuing it. That’s Why they say take it as soon as possible. I’ve only taken the pill once and I’d like to never again. I ended up in hospital on a drip after because I bled for 2 weeks straight non stop. Was using a pack of pads every day 😩😩

CharlotteRose90 · 28/12/2020 14:00

@Tessabelle74

Posted too soon! So with that information in mind, maybe the morning after pill should be offered in conjunction with the IUD?
Forgot to add to mine but I took the MAP and was offered an IUD straight away . Think it’s common with doctors to offer it.
GU24Mum · 28/12/2020 14:17

Hope you're ok OP and that things have turned out ok for you and your OH.

camoflaguesocks · 29/12/2020 17:29

@Tessabelle74

Posted too soon! So with that information in mind, maybe the morning after pill should be offered in conjunction with the IUD?
I always discuss the IUD during the consultation but it is declined by around 95% despite me speaking very positively about it and having a 'dummy' one to show as people believe it's like a coat hanger when really it's very small. When I said that copper was thought to have an anti spermicidal effect as well, one lady said "I'll shove a two pence piece up my fanny in future then!" I had to laugh at that one.
247mummsy · 31/12/2020 18:20

I had no idea of this and thank you for bringing it to so many peoples attention. I’ve only taken it once before, from Sainsbury’s about 14 years ago and they did not inform me of this. Very bad! I too can’t take certain birth control ie the mini pill because of migraines, normal pill because of mood swings etc so I have the copper coil, which seems ok and lasts a long time. I’ve had 2 babies 8 & 2, and before then I wouldn’t have had a clue when I ovulate, now I do.
I hope things turn out ok and agree you should complain to Boots.

Meandmyhamsterheadagain · 04/01/2021 08:22

Hope all worked out OK for you and your DP

NoDontDoIt · 04/01/2021 08:49

I dont know if it was specifically Ellaone i took, but in 2020 i had a scare because a condom split after i had recently ovulated. After reading the leaflet which said it worked by stopping ovulation, i quizzed a pharmacist and they told me it doesnt ONLY work by stopping ovulation, so still worth taking. I didnt get pregnant.

Stace99 · 04/01/2021 15:38

Still no update. Hope everything is well. x

camoflaguesocks · 04/01/2021 19:22

I have dealt with a few young people recently who I've talked about 'plan b' which is an American term. I don't know if I feel ok that at least they have heard of it or depressed that that are getting emergency contraception info from US sources