# Re using a high dose of birth control pills as "morning after" birth control method **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 19, 2005, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-using-a-high-dose-of-birth-control-pills-as-morning-after-birth-control-method/326948 "2005-10-19T17:39:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2005, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-using-a-high-dose-of-birth-control-pills-as-morning-after-birth-control-method/326948/1 "2005-10-19T17:39:24Z")
Is this method recognized as a generally effective means of morning after birth control, or is it hit and miss? Are there negative hormonal consequences for the person taking it? ---
**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2005, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-using-a-high-dose-of-birth-control-pills-as-morning-after-birth-control-method/326948/2 "2005-10-19T17:48:34Z")
> [@astro](#): > > Is this method recognized as a generally effective means of morning after birth control, or is it hit and miss? Are there negative hormonal consequences for the person taking it? It might work BUT there may be negative consequences. Abstinence guarantees no adverse effects! Barrier contraceptives, cundoms, are not 100% but no adverse effects other that possible rupture/leakage. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2005, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-using-a-high-dose-of-birth-control-pills-as-morning-after-birth-control-method/326948/3 "2005-10-19T18:10:36Z")
Thanks for the contribution Spingears. I’m sure abstinence will be of great help to the OP the morning after :rolleyes:. I bet you were just about to point out that the pill is 99.7% effective, you just didn’t get around to it. Yes, a high does of birth control pills is considered effective as a morning after birth control, and is often prescribed by doctors (and of course you should seek a doctor if you are planning to go this route.) The 'morning after" pill is nothing more than a high dose of standard birth control pills. As far as side effects, each woman tolerated birth control pills in different ways. If you have never taken a pill before, it’s hard to tell. But at the most it will be a few days of discomfort. I don’t think it can cause any sort of ongoing problems. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2005, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-using-a-high-dose-of-birth-control-pills-as-morning-after-birth-control-method/326948/4 "2005-10-19T18:14:53Z")
What **sven** said. Until recently, the only morning-after pills out there were just plain old high dose BCPs. I first prescribed them about 20 years ago, for that purpose, as emergency contraception. I don’t get much call for it from my current patient population, though. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![deevee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@deevee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deevee)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2005, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-using-a-high-dose-of-birth-control-pills-as-morning-after-birth-control-method/326948/5 "2005-10-19T19:55:21Z")
Does U.S. law consider this abortion? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2005, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-using-a-high-dose-of-birth-control-pills-as-morning-after-birth-control-method/326948/6 "2005-10-19T20:29:36Z")
> [@spingears](#): > > Abstinence guarantees no adverse effects! Except blueballs, and that’s no picnic. ---
**Author:** ![saoirse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@saoirse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saoirse)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2005, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-using-a-high-dose-of-birth-control-pills-as-morning-after-birth-control-method/326948/7 "2005-10-19T20:31:33Z")
> [@deevee](#): > > Does U.S. law consider this abortion? No, it is contraception. It works the same way that that the pill works when taken daily. ---
**Author:** ![SusanStoHelit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@SusanStoHelit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SusanStoHelit)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2005, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-using-a-high-dose-of-birth-control-pills-as-morning-after-birth-control-method/326948/8 "2005-10-19T20:32:58Z")
> [@deevee](#): > > Does U.S. law consider this abortion? No, and in fact some states are considering legislation allowing pharmacists to prescribe and dispense it without a Dr’s consulation, because it may be hard to get into a Dr within the 72 hour window of effectiveness. I think that there are several states that already allow this. The FDA is currently considering whether to make emergency contraception over-the-counter. The last I heard, they were worried that girls under 17 could get it and misuse it (which is a bit ricidulous, IMO, but nobody asked me). [cite](http://www.pharmacist.com/articles/h_ts_0534.cfm) There are some religious groups that still believe that emergency contraception is an abortion (even though in most cases fertilization of the egg will not have occured, much less implantation, by 72 hours). Wal-Mart refuses to stock any emerency contraception, and some pharmacists refuse to dispense it. It’s a pretty hot topic, and we’ve had some threads about it around here, but it is not even close to being illegal. As to the OP, I took it about 5 years ago when a condom broke on me, and I vomited for 24 hours. It also triggered my period a few days early (which I guess prevents the egg from implanting). No long-lasting effects AFAIK, and I can use the regular (low-dose) Pill with no problems. ---
**Author:** ![SusanStoHelit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@SusanStoHelit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SusanStoHelit)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2005, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-using-a-high-dose-of-birth-control-pills-as-morning-after-birth-control-method/326948/9 "2005-10-19T20:37:35Z")
Sorry for the double post: From [Planned Parenthood](http://plannedparenthood.org/pp2/portal/files/portal/medicalinfo/ec/pub-emergency-contraception.xml): > [@](#): > > Effectiveness: > Combined ECPs reduce the risk of pregnancy by 75 percent if started within 72 hours. For example, eight out of 100 women will become pregnant after having unprotected sex once during the second or third week of their cycles. But only two out of 100 will become pregnant after taking ECPs. > [@](#): > > Side Effects: > > Side effects associated with the use of ECPs usually taper off within a day or two. > > ``` > * Half of the women who take the combined pills feel sick to their stomachs, but only for about 24 hours. > > * Fewer than one out of five women throw up with combined pills. > > * The risk of nausea and vomiting is lower with progestin-only ECPs. > > * Breast tenderness, irregular bleeding, dizziness, and headaches may also occur. > > ``` > > Frequent use of ECPs may cause periods to become irregular and unpredictable. The side effects of anti-nausea medication may include drowsiness. Please follow the precautions on the package insert. > > Emergency contraception may not prevent ectopic pregnancy. An ectopic pregnancy is one that develops outside the uterus. It must be treated to prevent complications that may be fatal. > > If you think you may have an ectopic pregnancy, get medical attention immediately. Signs of ectopic pregnancy include > > ``` > * severe pain on one or both sides of the lower abdomen > > * abdominal pain and spotting, especially after a very light or missed menstrual period > > * feeling faint or dizzy > > ``` > > ECPs will not harm a fetus. Still, you should not use emergency contraception if you are pregnant. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2005, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-using-a-high-dose-of-birth-control-pills-as-morning-after-birth-control-method/326948/10 "2005-10-19T20:41:44Z")
> [@](#): > > No, it is contraception. It works the same way that that the pill works when taken daily. The question of whether this is abortion is probably better suited to GD. But it was my understanding that the mechanism was different from that used with a regular regimen of the pill. When one takes the pill regularly, as I understand, one does not ovulate, except at patient-controlled times (the patient being expected to abstain during those times). But when used as a morning-after pill, ovulation and subsequent fertilization may have already occured, but the hormones in the pill prevent the zygote from implanting on the wall of the uterus. Doctors, some help here? ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2005, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-using-a-high-dose-of-birth-control-pills-as-morning-after-birth-control-method/326948/11 "2005-10-19T21:05:59Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > But it was my understanding that the mechanism was different from that used with a regular regimen of the pill. When one takes the pill regularly, as I understand, one does not ovulate, except at patient-controlled times (the patient being expected to abstain during those times). IANAD, but I am on the Pill. There are no times during the month that a Pill-user is expected to abstain, at least not for any Pill I’ve ever heard of. [Ortho Tri-Cyclen](http://www.orthotri-cyclen.com/about/howworks.html) says on their Web page that the Pill is supposed to inhibit ovulation. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2005, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-using-a-high-dose-of-birth-control-pills-as-morning-after-birth-control-method/326948/12 "2005-10-19T21:10:30Z")
> [@SusanStoHelit](#): > > which is a bit ricidulous [Jerry Seinfeld]Did you say ‘ricidulous’[/Jerry Seinfeld] ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2005, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-using-a-high-dose-of-birth-control-pills-as-morning-after-birth-control-method/326948/13 "2005-10-19T22:37:35Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > When one takes the pill regularly, as I understand, one does not ovulate, except at patient-controlled times (the patient being expected to abstain during those times). Nope. I’m on the pill and I can go at it like a rabbit with gay abandon at any time I like. I believe the pill not only inhibits ovulation, it also makes the lining of the uterine wall unsuitable for a egg/sperm combo to implant. Sort of a double whammy of protection. I will add, that abstinance is a 100% effective method of birthcontrol, but not appropriate for people such a myself who like to screw. ---
**Author:** ![OslerKnew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/58f4c7/32.png) [@OslerKnew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OslerKnew)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2005, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-using-a-high-dose-of-birth-control-pills-as-morning-after-birth-control-method/326948/14 "2005-10-19T23:10:33Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > But when used as a morning-after pill, ovulation and subsequent fertilization may have already occured, but the hormones in the pill prevent the zygote from implanting on the wall of the uterus. Highly likely. The mechanism of action is not completely clear but most information suggests that when the combo of estrogen/progestin in high doses is used within the 72 hour window after unprotected intercourse, it will prevent ovulation if ovulation was otherwise on the brink of happening, but it also likely prevents implantation at the level of the uterine lining if ovulation has already occured. Other actions may be to make the cervical mucus inhospitable to sperm (thus preventing fertilization), or to interfere with tubal transport of the fertilized egg, or even to disrupt the otherwise normal hormonal effects (the corpus luteum) that are required for pregnancy to be established. Implantation can take up to a week after fertilization. Most in the medical community, unless otherwise religiously inclined, do not consider pregnancy to have occurred until implantation is established. ECPs (emergency contraceptive pills) do not disrupt a pregnancy if implantation has already occured. ---
**Author:** ![Excalibre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2005, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-using-a-high-dose-of-birth-control-pills-as-morning-after-birth-control-method/326948/15 "2005-10-19T23:33:02Z")
> [@OslerKnew](#): > > Highly likely. The mechanism of action is not completely clear but most information suggests that when the combo of estrogen/progestin in high doses is used within the 72 hour window after unprotected intercourse, it will prevent ovulation if ovulation was otherwise on the brink of happening, but it also likely prevents implantation at the level of the uterine lining if ovulation has already occured. Other actions may be to make the cervical mucus inhospitable to sperm (thus preventing fertilization), or to interfere with tubal transport of the fertilized egg, or even to disrupt the otherwise normal hormonal effects (the corpus luteum) that are required for pregnancy to be established. Implantation can take up to a week after fertilization. Most in the medical community, unless otherwise religiously inclined, do not consider pregnancy to have occurred until implantation is established. ECPs (emergency contraceptive pills) do not disrupt a pregnancy if implantation has already occured. What I’ve read recently is that even under the stricter standard of pregnancy beginning at conception, the morning after pill doesn’t generally and may not ever interfere with implantation - or so the most recent research seems to indicate. Sperm are viable for a period of time after sex, and many pregnancies occur when sperm waiting around fertilize an egg when the woman ovulates. So preventing ovulation is indeed the main way in which the morning after pill works. The morning after pill is most emphatically not abortion. If it could disrupt an already implanted pregnancy, it would probably be more than 75% effective. ---
**Author:** ![Good\_Egg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/96bed5/32.png) [@Good\_Egg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Good_Egg)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2005, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-using-a-high-dose-of-birth-control-pills-as-morning-after-birth-control-method/326948/16 "2005-10-19T23:41:01Z")
> [@alice\_in\_wonderland](#): > > I believe the pill not only inhibits ovulation, it also makes the lining of the uterine wall unsuitable for a egg/sperm combo to implant. I heard the pill “informs” your body that ovulation has already occured(though it hasn’t) so you don’t ovulate. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2005, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-using-a-high-dose-of-birth-control-pills-as-morning-after-birth-control-method/326948/17 "2005-10-19T23:49:13Z")
> [@alice\_in\_wonderland](#): > > Nope. I’m on the pill and I can go at it like a rabbit with gay abandon at any time I like. Well, if you’re having gay sex, you don’t have to worry about birth control at all, except for protection from STD’s 😛 (I know, I know, but I just couldn’t resist) ---
**Author:** ![SusanStoHelit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@SusanStoHelit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SusanStoHelit)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2005, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-using-a-high-dose-of-birth-control-pills-as-morning-after-birth-control-method/326948/18 "2005-10-19T23:52:53Z")
> [@Good Egg](#): > > I heard the pill “informs” your body that ovulation has already occured(though it hasn’t) so you don’t ovulate. Essentially, yes. High levels of progesterone inhibit your body from making folicle stimulating hormone or lutenizing hormone, the two hormones responsible for ovulation. [Here is a picture of your hormone levels throughout the ovulation cycle](http://distance.stcc.edu/AandP/AP/AP2pages/reprod/female1.htm)[More detail found here](http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/S/SexHormones.html) [Here is a short description of what birth control pills do](http://www.elmhurst.edu/~chm/vchembook/558birth.html) It’s pretty damn cool how it all works. ---
**Author:** ![SusanStoHelit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@SusanStoHelit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SusanStoHelit)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2005, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-using-a-high-dose-of-birth-control-pills-as-morning-after-birth-control-method/326948/19 "2005-10-19T23:54:33Z")
> [@Anne Neville](#): > > Well, if you’re having gay sex, you don’t have to worry about birth control at all, except for protection from STD’s 😛 > > (I know, I know, but I just couldn’t resist) I know. I was wondering who let **Excalibre** post here. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-using-a-high-dose-of-birth-control-pills-as-morning-after-birth-control-method/326948/20 "2005-10-20T05:40:23Z")
> [@astro](#): > > Is this method recognized as a generally effective means of morning after birth control, or is it hit and miss? Are there negative hormonal consequences for the person taking it? As Dr. Drew Pinsky and David Alan Grier tried to point out in [this hilarious clip](http://inside.nli-ltd.com/~jmcgrew/dag-drugnames.mp3), not all BC pills contain the same hormones, and not all of them can be used as emergency contraception (“morning after pill”). Ask a doctor about your particular pill to be sure.