Did the condom break, or did your regular birth control fail on you? Regardless of what happened, taking emergency contraception is the first thing you should do if you want to prevent a pregnancy after having unprotected sex.
Grab a morning-after pill, ideally within the first 24 hours, because the longer you wait, the more its effectiveness decreases. But when should you take the day-after pill exactly?
Does it have to be within the first 24 hours? What if you couldn’t get it within that time frame? Can you wait longer?
We'll answer all those questions, including some others, in this article. For now, know that it is important to take the pill as soon as you can to maximize its effectiveness.
Understanding the Timing of the Morning After Pill
It’s best if we’re on the same page about the morning-after pill (also called the day-after pill). You may be more familiar with the brands of these medications, including Morning After PillTM by CadenceOTC, Plan B One-Step, Take Action, and Ella.
Taking them right after having unprotected sex (condomless sex) can help prevent pregnancy. What’s worth mentioning is the timing of morning-after pills because the longer you wait, the less effective they are. With that said, knowing the ideal timeframe for taking these pills or tablets is crucial.
The sooner you take a morning-after pill, the more effective it will be. Timing is everything here!
The reason for taking the Morning After Pill is to delay releasing your egg if it has not been released already for that month. By doing so, the sperm that were deposited in your vagina will not find an egg to fertilize before they lose their ability to make a baby.
That is why it’s best to take a morning-after pill as soon as possible. Since many convenience stores are open late, you don’t have to wait till the next day; you can get them if they are available nearby before the pharmacies open elsewhere. You can get protection against pregnancy if the morning-after pill is taken up to 72 hours after unprotected intercourse, so even if it is 48 hours later, 65, or 72 hours later, it still makes sense to take it. But, you should not wait till the last minute because every few hours that go by increases the chance of you becoming pregnant.
Now, there is a morning-after pill that is effective beyond 72 hours of unprotected sex. Ella (ulipristal acetate) is an emergency contraceptive you can take up to 120 hours (or five days) after sex without a condom. You will need a prescription, however, from a doctor. And, like 72-hour morning-after pills, you should also take Ella as soon as possible.
The Importance of Timing
Morning-after pills work by delaying your ovulation or the release of an egg from the ovaries. It’s simple: no egg, no fertilization, meaning there’s no pregnancy. But, the quicker you can take a day-after pill after having condomless sex, the higher your chances are of stopping ovulation and lowering the chances of pregnancy.
How Soon is Too Soon?
Well, you’re now wondering, “Can I take the pill too early?” Don’t worry; we have got you covered. The great news is that there’s no such thing as taking the pill “too soon.” In fact, it’s advisable to go ahead and pop one morning-after pill right after you’ve had unprotected sex.
Up to 72 Hours
Still within the 72-hour window? Don’t wait; get going to the nearest convenience store or wherever it is available and grab a morning-after pill. There’s a range of them you can choose from to prevent pregnancy.
Beyond 72 Hours
You still have options, but they’ll be limited after 72 hours. The typical morning-after pills won’t be as effective after three days. However, there is the option to use Ella. It contains 30 milligrams of ulipristal acetate, the active substance that will help prevent pregnancy.
That pill is effective for up to 120 hours or five days after having unprotected sex. Still, don’t wait too long, as you’ll need a doctor’s prescription to get Ella.
If you’re seeking long-term emergency contraception, consider an intrauterine device (IUD). IUDs are a highly effective contraception method that can last up to 10 years for pregnancy prevention. It is a small, T-shaped device that your doctor inserts into your uterus. Aside from its high success rate (99%), if you aren’t satisfied with your IUD, it can be removed very easily in the doctor’s office.
The IUD creates a not-so-accommodating environment for sperm in your uterus. Think of the IUDs as a giant “No Trespassing” sign for the nifty little swimmers (sperm). So, if you want a set-and-forget contraception, IUDs might be the perfect fit for you.
How Many Times Can You Take Emergency Contraception?
It’s not going to be your primary birth control option. That said, it’s okay to take it occasionally. They’re safe, convenient, effective, and, more importantly, don’t usually require a prescription. You can just walk into a convenience store (7-Eleven, Circle K, and other stores) or pharmacy to get one. Easy breezy, right?
There may be a few situations where you might need to take another morning-after pill. Although the morning-after pill is safe to use every now and then, you shouldn’t rely on it too often.
Note: Morning-after pills are not a replacement for regular birth control like birth control pills, IUDs, the patch, an implant, or the shot. Why? Take too many, and your menstruation cycle will start acting up because the dose of progesterone in most morning-after pills is about 15 times greater than the dose in the regular birth control pill. Periods are late, then they’re early. Sometimes, they’ll be lighter, and other times, they’ll be heavier. While those are common side effects, an unusual frequency could make these side effects more severe.
Recurring use of morning-after pills can mess with your menstruation, and its effectiveness is significantly lower than other forms of birth control meant for daily use.
There are no specific guidelines or rules regarding how often you can take the morning-after pill. However, it is designed for emergencies, so please only use them when you really need them.
If you get to a place where you feel you need to take emergency contraceptive pills quite often, it’s probably best to start exploring other options that provide better protection for long-term use. Pay a visit to your local medical center to speak with a healthcare provider about the best birth control options for your health and lifestyle.
How Effective is the Morning After Pill?
The morning-after pill’s effectiveness varies depending on how soon you take it after unprotected sexual intercourse. Below, we did a breakdown of the success rates of levonorgestrel-based morning-after pill based on timing:
You can go for Ella, which might be effective for up to five days after condomless sex. However, with any emergency contraceptive pill you take, the effectiveness will continue to decline the longer you wait—even if you plan to go for Ella.
Other factors can impact the effectiveness of a morning-after pill, including timing (we’ll discuss this in detail in the following sections). For example, your weight could impact how the pill works in your body.
For people with a higher body mass index (BMI), the pill might be less effective. In these cases, a healthcare provider, such as an OB/GYN, can recommend alternative forms of emergency contraception.
And if you’re concerned about whether or not the day-after pill was effective, you can always take an early pregnancy test nine days after the unprotected sex to double-check. Rather be safe than sorry, right?
Ideal Timeframe for Taking the Morning After Pill
So, when do you take the morning-after pill? Let’s go a bit deeper into the ideal timeframe for taking the morning-after pill, so you have everything you need to know to make the best decisions for your sexual health. If you’re in a situation where you need the morning-after pill, take it as soon as you can to prevent pregnancy.
If, for some reason, you vomited within two hours of taking it, you should take a second dose, but you may chat with your doctor to be sure.
Up to 3 Days (72 Hours)
You can take the emergency contraceptive up to 72 hours after unprotected sex. Remember, the pill is still effective up to 72 hours after unprotected sexual intercourse, but its effectiveness decreases with each passing day, so please keep that in mind.
Beyond 72 Hours
If you’re beyond the 72-hour period since you’ve had unprotected sex, don’t fret—you still have options for emergency contraception. For this situation, it’s best to consult with your physician. They can prescribe Ella, or they can recommend a copper IUD, which also works within five days of unprotected sex. Copper IUDs are a long-term solution that can prevent pregnancy for up to 10 years. How does a copper IUD work? Well, this medical device creates an environment within your uterus that prevents sperm from reaching and fertilizing an egg.
Quick tip: Make sure you have the morning-after pill handy when needed. Keep the emergency contraceptive in your medicine drawer or your bag for easy access.
Factors Affecting Effectiveness
Quite a few factors can affect how well the morning-after pill works in your body. Knowing what influences the pill’s effectiveness can help you decide if this emergency contraceptive is right for you.
- Time of ovulation: Whether or not you’ve started ovulation can determine if the morning-after pill will work. If you’ve started ovulating, the emergency contraceptive pill will not be as effective. Why? Because the pills work by delaying your ovulation, and if the egg has already been released, there’s not much it can do to prevent fertilization (sorry!).
- Ongoing medications (drug interactions): Not to get too sciencey, but certain medications can lower a pill’s effectiveness. Anti-seizure medications, St. John’s wort (a supplement), certain antibiotics, antifungal medications, and HIV medications are some of the names you should get familiar with if occasional slip-ups are your thing. If you’re taking any of these, talk to your doctor before you use an emergency contraceptive.
- Throwing up after taking the pill: If you vomit within two hours after taking the morning-after pill, there’s a good chance your body didn’t absorb it all the way. In these cases, you should take another pill to ensure protection, which can be a bit of a bummer. If you are unsure whether you vomited up everything, talk to your doctor or nurse practitioner.
- Body weight and BMI: One of the main factors that affect how a morning-after pill works is your body weight. Research shows that the day-after pill is less effective for people who weigh more than 165 pounds and/or have a BMI over 25.
Does the Morning After Pill Have Side Effects?
Like any medication you take, the morning-after pill comes with a few not-so-desired side effects. It’s best to be aware of the common symptoms this emergency contraceptive might cause, including:
- Nausea
- Headache
- Fatigue or tiredness
- Dizziness
- Tender breasts
- Changes in your menstrual cycle (early or later than usual)
- Light bleeding or spotting
Other side effects include abdominal or stomach pain and mood changes. While mood changes can disappear on their own, if you experience persistent or severe stomach pain, please seek medical attention ASAP.
When Not to Rely on the Morning After Pill
Typically, the morning-after pill is a fairly reliable emergency contraceptive for preventing pregnancy. However, there are situations where this pill might not be the best choice for you. For instance, if:
- you’re already pregnant
- you need to use it quite frequently
- you’ve started ovulating
- you’re taking medications that interact with the pill
- it’s been more than five days since you’ve had unprotected sex
… we don’t recommend you “pop a Morning After Pill” as it will not help to prevent a pregnancy in this case.
What Medicines Affect How Well Plan B Works?
Knowing what drugs you are taking is also super important. Some medications, as mentioned earlier, can reduce the effectiveness of the emergency contraceptive pill.
These pharmaceutical medications can speed up the breakdown of the hormone in morning-after pills, making them less effective—which is what we want to avoid.
Here’s a list of those medications and other substances that affect a morning-after pill’s ability to work properly:
- Anti-seizure medications (barbituates, carbamazepine, and phenytoin)
- St. John’s wort (herbal supplement)
- Certain antibiotics (rifampin)
- Certain sleep medications (modafinil)
- HIV medications (antiretroviral drugs like efavirenz)
- Antifungal medications (griseofulvin)
If you’re currently taking any of these medications, don’t hesitate to consult with your physician before taking any morning-after pill. They might recommend another emergency contraceptive, such as IUD, or up the dose on the morning-after pill to increase its effectiveness in your body.
The morning-after pill is a fabulous way to prevent pregnancy when you’ve had a “whoopsie.” But for the pill to work in your favor, timing is very important. Take it as soon as you can. Don’t wait because the effectiveness goes down every few hours. Ella can work up to 120 hours after sex. However, you’ll need a doctor’s written prescription before you can pop one of these bad boys.
Need a bit more guidance or additional resources? We highly recommend speaking with your doctor for professional medical advice.
