Prescription requirement

The morning-after pill is available only on prescription in Germany and can be obtained from a gynecologist or at the weekend in the emergency room of a hospital.

Cost of the “morning after pill

Similar to hormonal contraceptive methods (the pill, 3 monthly injections, etc. ), the statutory health insurance companies cover the costs incurred only until the age of 20, i.e. exactly until the 21st birthday. Also, the necessary preliminary examinations, medical consultations and follow-up examinations that must be carried out when taking the morning after pill are only covered by the health insurance companies until this date.

In addition, a prescription fee of 5 euros is payable from the age of 18. Private health insurance companies usually do not cover the emergency contraceptive pill at all, so privately insured women are forced to pay the costs themselves. Depending on the manufacturer, the morning-after pill costs between 16 and 35 euros.

Possible side effects of the emergency contraceptive pill

Taking the “morning after pill” can lead to various side effects. These vary from woman to woman. Some women experience no side effects at all, others struggle with nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea.

Itching can also be caused by the emergency contraceptive pill. However, this is a rather rare side effect that affects less than one in 1,000 women who have taken the morning-after pill. Mostly affected women complain of itching in the genital area, occasionally the itching can also occur in other parts of the body.

Usually the itching disappears by itself after a short time. If it lasts longer than a few days, a gynecologist should be consulted. It could then be another cause for the itching, for example a fungal infection that is not directly related to the morning-after pill.

Long term use

The morning-after pill should not be used for long-term contraception as it contains a high dose of hormones that can upset the natural cycle. This means that side effects of the emergency contraceptive pill are more frequent and put a strain on the body. The safety of the emergency contraceptive pill as a long-term contraceptive method is also surpassed by other contraceptives, such as regular pill use.

Accordingly, the emergency contraceptive pill should be regarded as an emergency contraceptive and should only be used as such. There is little long-term data on long-term side effects of the emergency contraceptive pill. According to the current state of science, however, fertility is not affected by taking the emergency contraceptive pill. Also, according to current knowledge, the unborn child will not be harmed if the pregnancy is nevertheless maintained.