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ABORTION
SERVICES THROUGH 24 WEEKS
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us 24 hours a Day
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877-I-MATTER
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BIRTH
CONTROL - THE Morning-After Pill
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The
Morning-After Pill(emergency
contraception)
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| What is
“the Morning-after Pill”? |
| Emergency contraception more
commonly known as “the morning-after
pill” is two large doses of hormones,
similar to the ones in the birth control
pill. The first dose must be taken
within 72 hours of unprotected or inadequately
protected intercourse, followed by a
second dose 12 hours later. It is meant
only as a back-up method of birth control
to be used on an emergency basis only
if you believe there has been a failure
in your current method of birth control
(i.e. when a condom breaks, if you have
missed 2 or more days of the pill, etc). |
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| How does
the Morning-after Pill work? |
| The morning-after pill
will prevent or delay the release of
an egg from the ovary if given prior
to ovulation, or it will help prevent
the egg from traveling down the fallopian
tubes and implanting in the uterus if
you have already ovulated. The morning-after
pill reduces the chance of getting pregnant;
it does NOT cause an abortion. |
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| How effective
is the Morning-after Pill? |
| The morning-after
pill is approximately 98-99% effective.
However, the statistics of being pregnant
rests greatly on where you are in your
menstrual cycle. You are only fertile
at the time of ovulation. If 100 women
each had a single act of unprotected
intercourse on one day in the middle
of their cycle and then take the morning-after
pill, only 2 to 3 will get pregnant.
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| Are
there any reasons why I shouldn’t use
the Morning-after Pill? |
| Yes, if you are currently
pregnant. The morning-after pill will
not work if you are already pregnant.
Otherwise, the morning-after pill is
safe for most women. The final decision
is between you and your doctor. |
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| What are
the most common side effects of the Morning-after
Pill? |
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irregular
bleeding |
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Women using
the morning-after pill may experience
a change in their next period.
It may come early, on time,
or be late. Most women will
get their period 7 to 9 days
after treatment. If your period
has not occurred by 21 days
after treatment, you should
check this out with a pregnancy
test.
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nausea |
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Half of women
using this method will experience
nausea and some will have vomiting.
Take the morning-after pill
with food to minimize this side
effect. When vomiting occurs
due to the morning-after pill
it probably indicates that enough
hormone has reached the blood
stream to have its desired effect.
There is no need to repeat the
dose.
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ectopic
pregnancy |
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If
the morning-after pill fails to prevent
pregnancy, there is an increased chance
it is a tubal pregnancy. |
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other |
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Common side effects
include breast tenderness, fatigue,
headache, abdominal pain, and dizziness.
Since the morning-after pill is a
short-term treatment, these symptoms
should resolve shortly after you complete
the two doses.
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| What are
the benefits of the Morning-after Pill? |
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offers a second chance
if you have had unprotected or inadequately
protected sex |
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no increased risk for
birth defects if taken by a woman already
pregnant or the method fails |
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not dangerous
to use several times; however,
you should not count on the morning-after
pill as ongoing contraception
because they are not as effective
as other forms of birth control.
It is intended for one-time
emergency protection |
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| How do
I take the Morning-after Pill? |
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The morning-after
pill is provided in 2 doses. Take
the first dose within 72 hours of
unprotected sex, followed by the second
dose 12 hours later. Use a back-up
method until your next period. Do
NOT have unprotected sex after treatment.
Your next period may be early, on
time, or late. If your period does
not come within 21 days of treatment,
you may be pregnant and you should
check this one with a pregnancy test
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| When can
I start birth control after taking the Morning-after
Pill? |
| You should start using a
method such as condoms immediately after you
start the morning-after pill. If you desire
to start a hormonal form of birth control,
such as the pill or the shot, the best time
to start is when your have your period. |
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| Does the
morning-after pill cause birth defects if
it fails and I do get pregnant? |
| There is no increased
risk of birth defects if you take the
morning-after pill and still become
pregnant or even if you are pregnant
when you take it. We will give you
a pregnancy test before dispensing it
to you, mostly because this the method
will not be effective if you are already
pregnant. |
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| Does
the morning-after pill cause infertility?
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| There is no effect on your
future chances of getting pregnant. Your
fertility returns after your next period. |
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