Side effects of the emergency contraceptive pill

Synonyms in a broader sense

Synoynme in a broader sense:

  • Pill
  • Contraception
  • Condom
  • Hormone bomb
  • Post-coital contraception

Side effects

Nausea and vomiting often occur when taking the morning after pill. If this happens within the first 3 hours after taking the pill (morning after pill), the pill must be taken again. and side effects of the pill.

Likewise, almost every 5th woman experiences headaches and, at 5%, lower abdominal pain, breast tenderness and menstrual cramps. Intermediate bleeding occurs and the next menstruation may be delayed (morning-after pill side effects). The new drug Ulipristal has the same spectrum of side effects as the traditional morning-after pill. Dizziness is often mentioned as a side effect. Infections, fatigue or mood disorders can also occur (emergency contraceptive pill).

Contraindications

A pregnancy should be excluded in any case by means of a pregnancy test – whether the symptoms are described by a lack of menstruation (=menorrhoea) in this cycle or whether unprotected intercourse has already taken place in the same cycle. Previous use of the morning after pill in the same cycle is also a contraindication. Since the drug affects the liver, liver dysfunction can also be ruled out (emergency contraceptive pill).

Requirements

The morning-after pill (both preparations) is currently available in Germany without a prescription. The costs of the emergency contraceptive pill and the associated pre- and control examination (3 weeks after taking the emergency contraceptive pill) are covered by statutory health insurance up to the age of 20. From the age of 20 onwards, the €10 practice fee and the cost of the medication of approx. €17 (emergency contraceptive pill) are incurred.

Possible other side effects

Shortly after taking the morning-after pill, so-called withdrawal bleeding does not occur in most cases, but irregular bleeding (spotting or spotting) can still occur. In addition, the use of the emergency contraceptive pill can influence the usual rhythm of the female menstrual cycle. For this reason, it is possible that the next menstrual period may start a few days earlier or later than usual after taking the pill.

If menstruation occurs more than five days after the usual time or if it is only very weak, a gynecologist should be consulted in any case and pregnancy should be ruled out. The next menstrual period after taking the pill will usually be much heavier than usual. Since strong bleeding irregularities can occur after each use of the pill, it should not be used several times in quick succession.

Even one week after taking the morning-after pill you may still feel slightly unwell and have stomach ache. Dizziness and nausea may still occur after one week. In addition, many women report long-lasting feelings of tension in the breast and increasing fatigue. However, the most common side effect is the occurrence of spotting, intermittent bleeding or withdrawal bleeding, as the use of the pill afterwards can throw the normal cycle out of rhythm.