When choosing a contraceptive method , women ask themselves what the advantages and disadvantages of each are. It is a complex issue and, far from simplifying things, there are a lot of contraceptive systems on the market: patches, prophylactics, vaginal rings… A real mess.

Although there are more and less reliable methods, it is good to have information about all of them, since it will help us to know which ones are the best adapted to our needs and how we should use them.

Today we would like to explain to you what the morning-after pill consists of.

Morning After Pill: A Safe Way to Avoid Pregnancy?

One of the methods of preventing pregnancy is the morning-after pill. Although many women use it regularly, there is a long list of clichés, myths and misunderstandings about this pill .

To shed some light, we have compiled this list with eight keys to how it works.

1. What is the Morning After Pill?

It is a pill that is indicated to prevent pregnancy from occurring after an intimate relationship without the use of an effective contraceptive method or in case there is suspicion that the contraceptive may have failed.

2. How should I take this pill?

Depending on the country you live in, the medicine will be presented under different trade names. In Spain, the pill is sold under the trade names Norlevo and Postinor . Both pills work on the basis of a progesterone called levonorgestrel . You should take a single tablet of 1,500 milligrams .

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3. How exactly does it work?

The morning after pill acts on several organic processes . First, it prevents or delays ovulation, so that the egg cannot be fertilised by a spermatozoon.

Second, the pill temporarily modifies some characteristics of the cervical mucus, which is a substance that we have in the cervix, with the aim of making it difficult for the sperm to travel easily through the uterus and therefore decreasing the chances that they will reach their goal: the egg.

4. If fertilization has already occurred, what happens if I take the pill?

By the time you take the pill, a sperm may have already fertilized an egg. In this case, the morning-after pill can also be very helpful. The pill works in the uterus by preventing the embryo from sticking to the wall of the uterus . If the pill succeeds, the embryo does not thrive and is expelled during menstruation.

5. When should I take the pill?

To maximize the chances of it being effective, should be ingested as soon as possible after you have had a risky intimate relationship . It is 95% effective within the first 24 hours of having had a relationship. If you allow more time to pass, its effectiveness will decrease.

6. What are its side effects?

The pill acts on the production of hormones, by altering hormonal function . Therefore, you may notice some side effects, such as alterations in the menstrual cycle, nausea, dizziness, feeling of weakness… Although these are common effects among women who take the pill, do not hesitate to consult your doctor if you have any doubts or feel bad after taking it.

7. I took the pill. How will I know if it worked?

If you have a menstruation , you can breathe a sigh of relief: the pill has worked; you are not pregnant. However, the pill changes the way your hormones work, so it is not unusual for you to get your period a little earlier or later than usual.

8. Is the pill 100% reliable as a contraceptive?

No, taking the morning-after pill does not guarantee that you will avoid pregnancy . It is true that the pill has been shown to be effective, but it is not 100% reliable. In fact, it is an emergency contraceptive method , and you should not use it as a regular form of birth control, because sooner or later you could get pregnant. Pure statistics.

To avoid scares, you should consult your gynecologist, who will be able to guide you and indicate the contraceptive method that best suits your case.