Post-coital contraception, also called emergency, immediate or simply "after" is a form of contraception used after unprotected intercourse, preventing the implantation of a potential egg.

The contraceptive pill("after") - this is the so-calledemergency contraceptionwhen other methods fail. It affects the he alth of women, but in many European Union countries they can be bought without a prescription.

Pill for - what you should know about it

Emergency contraception absolutely cannot be used as a method of contraception. It can only be used in exceptional circumstances. The tablet has a double effect:

  1. if unprotected intercourse occurred before ovulation, the pill will delay her. No egg will come out of the Graaf's follicle, so the sperm will have nothing to fertilize and will die.
  2. if the egg has already escaped from the Graaf's follicle, and as a result of intercourse fertilization has taken place and the cell has just started migrating to the uterus, the tablet will prevent further divisions in this cell, it will thicken the mucus in the uterus, which will prevent further movement of the egg . The fertilized egg goes to the uterus for 4-5 days.

The egg is usually implanted on the 6th day after fertilization. To make sure that the fertilized egg has not yet reached the uterus, the pill, depending on its composition, must be taken within 72 hours or 5 days of intercourse - of course, the sooner, the greater its effectiveness.

If the egg is implanted in the uterus - from a medical point of view, this is the moment of the onset of pregnancy - the "po" pill will help to maintain it.Therefore it is not considered to be Abortive.

After taking the "po" pill, you may experience nausea, pains in the lower abdomen, and sometimes diarrhea. Note: If a woman vomits or has diarrhea after taking the tablet, there is a high risk that the preparation will not work. It is then necessary to take another pill.

Who is emergency contraception for

Emergency contraception can be used by all women, regardless of age. Women who have hormonal disorders, and who only use condoms as security during intercourse, should discuss the problem with their gynecologist beforehand.

Women who do not have regular partners should have such a pill or on hand for their own safetyprescription for this remedy. Each package of the preparation contains only one tablet with levonogestrel (postinor duo, escapelle) or ulipristal acetate (ellaOne). Means with levonogestrel should be taken within 12 hours after intercourse, but also no later than 72 hours after unprotected sexual intercourse. Ulipristal acetate is recommended to be taken within 5 days after intercourse, but its effectiveness is greatest when used within 24 hours after intercourse.

Worth knowing

On June 1, 2022, the Senate adopted an amendment to the He althcare Benefits Act, which stipulates that thepill "after" ellaOne will be available only by prescription . The amendment stipulates that all hormonal contraceptives for internal use will be issued only on the basis of a prescription issued by a doctor. This means that the prescription will also include ellaOne pills, which since 2015, people over 15 years of age have been able to buy without visiting a doctor. Government officials explain this decision with safety reasons: "Prescription drug dispensing is a procedure that aims to ensure maximum safety of pharmacotherapy for patients. Meanwhile, very young people (even after 15 years of age) can buy and use this drug without medical control." - says the official statement posted on the website of the Ministry of He alth. However, the doctor - before issuing the prescription - will be able to cover himself with the "conscience clause".

CHANGES IN ACCESS TO EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION HAVE NOT BEEN EFFECTED YET. The president will have to sign the act. Only when the law enters into force will the "morning after" pill be available on prescription. For now, ellaOne is still available over the counter.

On Thursday, the Senate adopted an amendment to the law on he althcare services, which stipulates that the "morning after" pills will be sold on prescription (http://www.tvn24.pl) On Thursday, the Senate adopted an amendment to the law on he althcare services, which stipulates that the "morning after" pills will be sold on prescription (http://www.tvn24.pl)

ellaOne was admitted to trading in the European Union in 2009. In January 2015, the European Commission authorized the sale of the "po" pill without a prescription.

Worth knowing

The "day after" pill. Will you be able to get it without visiting a doctor?

Women on Web has announced that it will provide women with free prescriptions for emergency contraception from a European doctor. First of all, you should take part in free on-line consultations, fill out a special form, and then we will receive a prescription remotelybow. After printing it, you can buy emergency contraception at any Polish pharmacy. According to EU regulations, pharmacies in each member state are obliged to supply them.

However, the ministry emphasizes that pharmacies in Poland cannot currently fill electronic prescriptions - this will be possible only after the launch of the "Electronic Platform for Collection, Analysis and Sharing of Digital Resources on Medical Events" (it is to be launched in stages in the coming years) "Due to the fact that pharmacies in Poland currently do not have the possibility of filling an electronic prescription, the only acceptable prescriptions are paper prescriptions with the handwritten signature of the person issuing the prescription. It cannot be a copy of the prescription, the original is required "- emphasizes the ministry.

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Pregnancy