morning after pill query

[perplexedandbemused]

Not sure if this is the right thread for this...can anyone explain how a Levonelle morning after pill works please?

The pharmacist said it 'prevents ovulation', 'thins the lining of the womb making it inhospitable to an egg' and also does something to make it more difficult for sperm to travel up the cervix. So far I'm following. But then he said that if unprotected sex were to occur again in the same cycle the pill wouldn't protect from pregnancy. I had my toddler with me (not the best for concentration but zero other option) so the obvious follow up question has only just hit me.

I kind of get that some sperm might get through regardless, but if there's no egg, and/or the lining isn't hospitable to any eggs which may already be out there then why does it only protect you against the sex you had and not any future sex within the same cycle?

Not going to be putting this to the test fyi, I'm just looking to educate myself.

I think because it doesn't prevent ovulation for the whole cycle, so you might ovulate a week later than normal and get pregnant then. I'm not 100% certain though.

What contraception are you on at the moment? GPs don't always have time to talk you through it, but posting here might help you find something that will work better for you. Two toddlers will be even more distracting!

Yea this is right. It delays ovulation (and won’t stop it if you are already ovulating). But the delay is just that, you may ovulate later in the cycle which will mean you are at risk of pregnancy again - although you can then take it again. There are no limits to how often levonelle can be used in one cycle. It’s just not very effective sadly.

Ain't that the truth! Thanks for explaining though, I was most perplexed. But as I said, not going to be putting it to the test.

Thus far we've been using condoms or more often favouring the "we're too tired to have sex" method whilst DH talks about a vasectomy. I used to have the implant which worked well for me but sex hasn't been on the top of either of our agendas for a while so neither of us have prioritised it. Both just starting to get our drive back after being blessed with an awful sleeper. First date night out in two years and we lost all sense. If the MAP doesn't work I'm sure the call to his doctor will happen swiftly and suddenly.

Been feeling nauseous and tender the last few days which is making me mega paranoid. Feels very early for any of that so largely hoping it may be psychosomatic. Time will tell I guess.

That's interesting! Thanks. I got ovulation symptoms about a week after I took the MAP, rather than the week before as expected so that all kinda lines up. But didn't make sense based on what the pharmacist said at the time. Just doesn't feel like it was well explained, though that really could have been down to the extra person in the room. Toddlers + any kind of appointment aren't a good combo!