What Is the Morning After Pill?

When I was a teenager, I was very into reading about contraception, sexual health, and all that other good stuff. I still am — and that's probably why my sex life is amazing.

Birth control education is important, especially if you're very sexually active. No birth control education can lead to STDs and unwanted pregnancy.

Recently, I've been seeing a lot of confusion online and in propaganda about this form of birth control. I've even heard pro-life groups claiming that the morning after pill is a form of abortion, and this is simply not true.

To help clear things up and help fight back against propaganda, I'm going to explain what is the morning after pill, how to use it, and what your rights are when it comes to obtaining it.

What Is the Morning After Pill?

The morning after pill is a form of emergency contraception. It works by preventing sperm from fertilizing eggs, usually by preventing an egg from being released in the first place. They are primarily composed of progestin, a hormone that naturally occurs in the body.

There are many morning after pills that you can take, including Plan B, My Way, EZ Contra, and more. You can typically get them at pharmacies, by asking the pharmacist. Morning after pills are all considered to be OTC (Over-the-Counter) drugs, with an exception of Ella.

What Is the Morning After Pill Used For?

The morning after pill is an emergency-only contraception and is meant to be used as a last-minute way to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex.

In order for it to be dependable, it has to be taken within 5 days of the time you had unprotected sex. Ideally, it'll be taken in the first 72 hours — and the sooner you take it, the better.

If you already released an egg, the morning after pill probably will not be able to prevent pregnancy as well. That being said, some morning after pills also help prevent egg implantation.

If your egg is already fertilized, the morning after pill will not be able to do anything either. The morning after pill is not an abortion pill. It will not harm the fetus inside your body.

What Is the Morning After Pill Like?

The morning after pill is just like any other birth control pill in terms of size. However, since it has a lot more progestin in it than a standard birth control pill, it seems like more women are prone to experience side effects from it. The most common side effects include, but are not limited to:

• A heavier period following the use of the pill
• Cramping
• Nausea or vomiting
• Fatigue
• Dizziness
• Headaches

Despite the side effects, the morning after pill is extremely safe to use. Many girls also feel totally fine taking it.

What is the morning after pill's alternative?

Assuming you weren't using the rhythm method, you might need to hope for the best — however that won't be a good idea, practically speaking. Rather, a better option is to get an IUD from your local Planned Parenthood.

Copper IUDs can kill sperm immediately, and provide up to 12 years of protection from pregnancy. However, from what I've seen, most doctors don't actually want to give people IUDs right off the bat. So, emergency contraception is often your best bet.

What should I do if a pharmacist or a doctor refuses me an emergency contraceptive?

Personally, I would bring it up to management — or in the case of a doctor, start writing up reviews and notify the local licensing board. Give them hell, and make sure others know what their stance is on a woman's right to choose.

Having been in this situation before, I can advise you to give them hell and force them to be held accountable for their actions. Doctors and pharmacists shouldn't practice medicine if they aren't willing to listen to a patient's needs or do what's best for the patient.

That being said, if you can't get the morning after pill from your local pharmacy, you can always use PRJKT RUBY or other women's health organizations to help you get it overnighted to you.