How Many Times Can You Take The Morning After Pill?
Does the Morning After Pill Stop Working if You Take It Too Often?
The morning after pill has helped many women prevent unwanted pregnancy. Most women know that it exists and where they can buy it. However, not all of them know how it should be used.
According to a recent survey, one in five British women between 18 and 35 takes the morning after pill each year. While most women use it as a one-off solution to prevent pregnancy, reports suggest that some women use it as a regular form of contraception. How many times can you take the morning after pill and does it damage your health?
"The "morning after pill" should be used in emergencies only. It helps to prevent pregnancy if you have had unprotected sex or when your contraception has failed. You should not take it on a regular basis, as there are much better forms of contraception."
View Morning After Pills
Up to 98% effective against pregnancy for 5 days after sex
Effective up to 72 hours (3 days) after unprotected sex
Effective up to 72 hours (3 days) after unprotected sex
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When Should I Use it?
The morning after pill was developed for the use in emergencies - for example if you have forgotten to take the pill or a condom rips.
It contains a much higher dose of hormones than the normal contraceptive pill, which means that you should not use it regularly. As it was not designed for continued use, medical trials only assessed its safety when used as advised. Whether taking the morning after pill on a regular basis has any implications for your health is not known.
Why Can I Not Use it Regularly?
There are many reasons why you should avoid using the morning after pill on a regular basis. For one, the morning after pills effectiveness is lower than the contraceptive pill or the condom. Having unprotected sex and taking the emergency contraceptive pill is riskier than using contraception.
Unprotected sex also puts you at risk of sexually transmitted diseases. If you have had unprotected sex and you have had to use the morning after pill, you may also need to consider getting tested for STIs.
It is also worth considering that the morning after pill is far more expensive than other contraceptives and using it excessively will cost you more money than taking the pill or buying condoms. You should avoid using it several times in the same month, as this will cause changes in your period and upset your menstrual cycle.
How Often is Too Much?
If you find that you have to use the morning after pill every month or even several times a month, you need to see your GP to discuss other contraceptive options. As a general rule, if you find that you have to use it in regular intervals you should try to find a contraceptive which suits you. Many contraceptives are free on the NHS and with the contraceptive pill, the contraceptive injection and many other types of contraception to choose from, you should be able to find one which suits your lifestyle.