Emergency Oral Contraceptive

Emergency Oral Contraceptive

An emergency contraceptive pill is a form of birth control pill that a woman may use to reduce the chances of getting pregnant after having unprotected sexual intercourse.

1. How does this method work? 

The pill prevents pregnancy by delaying or stopping the release of an egg from a woman’s ovaries until the sperms become inactive. The pill does this by altering the way the sperm moves in a woman’s body, thus preventing the sperm from fertilizing an egg (Matyanga et al., 2018). However, this cannot work if the egg has already been fertilized.

2. What has to be done by the client to use the method?

To effectively use this pill, one should take it before 72 hours elapses after having sexual intercourse. However, for most people, the pill can remain effective up to four days after having sex. Moreover, if one vomits within three hours after taking the pill, she will need to take another pill.

3. What is the actual (real-world) efficacy of this method?

The contraceptive pill is normally used in a specific situation and, therefore, not a regular method of birth control. If the birth control is used correctly, its success rate becomes 98% for those with average weight. However, for those with more than 70kg, it is recommended that they use the copper IUD, which has a success rate of 100%.

4. How long does it take to return to fertility after discontinuing this method?

The emergency contraceptive pill can be used more than once in a menstrual cycle if required, but it is not supposed to be used as a regular form of contraception. Therefore, a woman gets her fertility five days later after taking the pill. However, one should understand that you can get pregnant the next time you have sex, even if it’s the next day unless you take another pill.

5. Advantages and benefits of this method.
6. The emergency contraception pill is a safe way of preventing pregnancy after having unprotected sexual intercourse or sexual assault.
7. It is a pill consumed once, which makes it private and leaves one with an option of whether to tell your partner about it.
8. The pills are available at the nearest chemist.
9. It is a method of family planning
10. Disadvantages of this method.
11. The method does not work if one is already pregnant.
12. It is limited to five days following unprotected sex.
13. It does not provide protection against sexually transmitted infections.
14. It may have side effects including vomiting and headaches
15. Discuss the risks, if any, associated with this method.

Using this pill can result in various side effects such as headaches, tummy pains, and vomiting. They can also lead to changes in periods such that one’s periods come earlier or later and become more painful than usual (WHO, 2018). The pill has a success rate of 98%, and therefore, it’s not guaranteed to prevent pregnancy, especially in women with more than 70kgs.

8. Does this method affect the risk of acquiring sexually transmitted infections? 

Emergency contraceptive pills do not prevent one from contracting sexually transmitted infections. The pill does not lower the chances of contracting sexually transmitted infections. Therefore, if one had sex with someone with STI, she will get infected even after using the emergency contraceptive pill.

Which of the following is not a type of emergency contraception?

• IUD
• Vasectomy

• ellaOne

• Levonelle

Answer:

 A vasectomy is a form of birth control method done to men for sterilization or even permanent contraception. This method cannot be a type of emergency contraception because it needs to be done before having sex. ellaOne and Levonelle are both hormones used for emergency contraception – as well as IUD, which is a copper device fitted in a woman’s body as a form of emergency contraceptive.