You may have landed here because you Googled something like "how to know if morning-after pill worked." Popping a morning-after pill can bring a sense of relief after having unprotected sex or when your go-to contraceptive fails on you. But how do you know if it really worked? Continue reading to learn the signs that the morning-after pill has worked, when a pregnancy test should be taken, potential side effects, and when to seek medical advice and additional information.
Signs of Effectiveness
So, how do you know if the morning-after pill worked? Well, the tricky part about this emergency contraceptive is that you can't always tell whether it's been effective or not. But, good news—certain signs can provide some reassurance that the pill is working.
Your Menstruation
One of the biggest signs that the morning-after has worked is if Mother Nature comes for her monthly visit on time. However, she may come a bit earlier or later than usual. The hormones in the morning-after pill, either levonorgestrel (Morning After PillTM by CadenceOTC, Take Action, Plan B One-Step) or ulipristal acetate (Ella), can affect the timing of your menstrual cycle.
A Negative Pregnancy Test
Getting negative results on a pregnancy test is another good indicator that the morning-after pill worked. Using an early pregnancy test (like EarlyPT and others) to test your urine 10 days after your last episode of unprotected intercourse and getting a negative test is a good indication that the morning-after pill worked. If your test results are negative and you aren't experiencing any pregnancy symptoms, you are likely in the clear.
Here's a deeper look into early vs late periods after taking the morning-after pill:
- Early period: If your period comes a few days earlier than expected, this can be a sign that the pill worked, as your body responds to the hormonal shift.
- Late period: A slightly delayed period isn't necessarily a cause for concern either. Hormonal changes can push your period back as far as a week. However, if your period is more than two days late, we highly recommend taking an early pregnancy test to see if it is positive or negative.
When to Take a Pregnancy Test
Listen, we get it—you're probably very anxious, so you want to take that pregnancy test ASAP. However, patience is key for the most accurate results.
You want to avoid taking a pregnancy test too soon after doing the deed, as the results will be inaccurate. This is because pregnancy tests work by detecting a hormone known as human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), which typically happens about six to twelve days after conception. The morning-after pill prevents or delays ovulation, which means that if it's done its job, no egg has been fertilized in the first place (yay!).
So, when exactly is the best time to take a pregnancy test? You should wait at least 10 days after unprotected sex to take a pregnancy test.
Types of Pregnancy Tests
There are two types of pregnancy tests you can use if you want to know if the morning-after pill worked:
- Do-it-yourself urine pregnancy tests: These are the ones you can buy over-the-counter at your local pharmacy or convenience store. They're very easy to use (you pee on a stick) and work by detecting hCG in your urine. Home tests are very accurate when you take them at the right time. However, if you take them too early, you may have a false negative—which is what we want to avoid.
- Blood tests: These tests will need to be administered by a healthcare provider. They can detect pregnancy as early as 6-8 days after ovulation. If you're feeling uncertain about whether the morning-after pill worked, call your healthcare provider and ask for a blood test to give you peace of mind.
Potential Side Effects and Concerns
Typically, most women can tolerate the morning-after pill. But, like any medication you take, there's a possibility that you might run into some very unwanted side effects. That being said, it's crucial to know the difference between what's normal and what's a cause for concern.
Monitoring for Symptoms
The most common side effects of the morning-after pill include nausea, tiredness, and headaches. You may also experience some breast tenderness, belly pain, or a dizzy spell. But, good news—these symptoms are mild and should disappear within a day or two.
Also, it's important to mention again that the morning-after pill can mess with your menstrual cycle. Some people experience some light spotting or bleeding a few days after taking the morning-after pill. Now, this doesn't mean that Mother Nature has come or that something's wrong down there—it's just your body's response to the surge of hormones from the pill.
In addition, as we previously mentioned, your period may come sooner or later than usual, or it could be heavier or lighter than normal. But before you worry, know that these are very common side effects of the pill and typically aren't a cause for concern.
Addressing Concerns
On the flip side, some side effects aren't so common and can be a sign of a more serious issue going on. If you experience any severe side effects, such as intense stomach pain or vomiting (which may affect how well the pill works in your system), or if your period doesn't arrive on time and you have belly pain, please reach out to your healthcare provider ASAP. While these symptoms are rare, they could be signs of a more serious issue or that the pill didn't work as it should've.
Seeking Medical Advice
There may be instances when you need to reach out to your healthcare provider after taking the morning-after pill—even if you feel fine and think everything is okay.
These situations include the following:
- Missed period: If your period is more than seven days late, we highly recommend you take another pregnancy test. If the test is still negative, call your doctor for advice.
- Persistent severe symptoms for more than a day: If you're experiencing recurring or severe symptoms like belly pain, nausea that doesn't seem to go away, and your pregnancy test is positive, please visit a medical clinic to rule out any potential health issues, such as an ectopic pregnancy.
Your healthcare provider can confirm if the morning-after pill worked and discuss the next steps if necessary. Remember: the sooner you seek medical services, the better.
Additional Factors to Consider
As we've stated many times, the morning-after pill is a great option for preventing pregnancy after having unprotected sex, but it's not a long-term solution. There are other factors you should consider regarding your ongoing sexual and reproductive health.
Regular Birth Control
If you frequently rely on the morning-after pill, it's probably time to consider regular birth control. Long-term contraception, such as birth control pills, IUDs, and other methods, is more effective at preventing pregnancy and can provide more peace of mind. Plus, if you're on regular birth control, emergency contraceptives won't need to be used in the future (hopefully).
Effectiveness Variations
We hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it's important to note that the morning-after pill is not 100% effective. It works best when you take it as soon as possible after unprotected sex—preferably within 72 hours (but within 24 hours is preferred!). However, effectiveness can vary depending on factors like:
- Body weight and body mass index (BMI): Your body weight can significantly impact the morning-after pill's effectiveness. Research has shown that it can be ineffective for people who weigh more than 165 pounds and/or have a BMI over 25.
- Medications: Certain medications can mess with the effectiveness of the morning-after pill. These include anti-seizure medications, St. John's wort (a supplement), certain antibiotics, antifungal medications, and HIV medications. So, if you take any of these meds, you should talk to your healthcare provider before using a morning-after pill.
- Vomiting after taking the pill: Just as a quick reminder: if you throw up two hours after taking the morning-after pill, it's unlikely that it had enough time to absorb in your body. If this happens, just pop another pill to ensure you're good.
