5 Myths About the Morning After Pill (Explained by Contraception Experts)

The methods contraceptives that exist today are very effective. Whether it’s condoms or hormonal alternatives, such as pills, injections or contraceptive devices, there is a wide and accessible offer for those who do not plan to become a mother or father.

Nevertheless, there can always be a margin of failure that results in a pregnancy unforeseen or desired.

For these cases, In September 2009, the use of emergency oral contraceptives was authorized in Chile. — better known as the morning after pill —, which prevents pregnancy after unprotected intercourse or if contraception fails.

But since this alternative arrived in the country, There are still people who doubt its effectiveness and advise against it due to certain erroneous beliefs that, over time and studies, have been disproved by scientific evidence.

In fact, to introduce the morning-after pill in Chile, There was a long legal battle that was won by women and their reproductive rights : In 2006, when the government authorized its distribution to women over 14 years old in public medical offices, an intense social and political debate was generated.

A particular section of society believed that this emergency pill was abortive and therefore went against the principles of the Constitution.

Thousands of Chilean women took to the streets to protest the ban on the pill. Later, in 2008, the Constitutional Court accepted an appeal of unconstitutionality presented by parliamentarians and conservative organizations and decided to prohibit its free distribution in the public service.

A year later, in 2009, and while the debate was still heated, Congress has approved a law guaranteeing free access to the morning-after pill in the public health system. This time, experts made sure that solid scientific evidence of its benefits for women was presented.

The first emergency contraceptive pill that began to be distributed in Chile was Escapel, from the Gedeon Richter laboratory. And since then, Both women and men, who can facilitate access to women who, for whatever reason, cannot come and collect them, can access them in any Cesfam.

Also They are available free of charge in pharmacies.

“Today, women are much more empowered to acquire them in advance and use them in certain situations that they feel may be necessary.” said Dr. Marcia Venegas, director of the Association of Gynecologists of Chile And gynecologist at Clínica Las Condes .

But the gynecologist is concerned that, despite the complex fight that has guaranteed access to this emergency method, myths about its use persist: “I have patients who come in pregnant because they didn’t know the product was sold over the counter. “We’re talking about that level of misinformation.”

To clarify the information, these are The 5 most common myths about the morning after pill and the explanation of each one.

Fake.

“In our country, the myth that the pill is abortive has persisted for years. and I wonder how it will be if it is scientifically proven that the method prevents the union of the sperm with the egg. In other words, there is no fertilization.” says Dr. Guillermo Galán, obstetrician-gynecologist, member of the Chilean Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology (SOCHOG) .

Moreover, according to the doctor, It also does not work on a pregnancy that has already started. The pill does not increase rates of spontaneous abortion and has no effect on birth weight or possible fetal malformations.

“If a pregnant woman ingests it, nothing will happen to her or to the fetus. It doesn’t terminate the pregnancy, it prevents it.

Fake.

Since 2015, The morning-after pill is sold without a prescription in all pharmacies in the country, after a decree was issued by the Public Health Institute.

“It was a huge step forward that came at a great cost and removed barriers to access. It made no sense that women couldn’t access it freely,” the midwife says. Leonardo Reyes, master of contraception And academic at the University of Atacama .

In addition, It is available free of charge in primary care centres (Cesfam) and offices under the Ministry of Health. It can even be requested by children under 14 years old.

TRUE.

However, The pill does not cause serious side effects. According to Dr. Galán, Only one in four women may experience “minor and temporary” symptoms such as:

• Nausea.
• Vomiting.
• Breast pain.
• Headache.
• Feeling dizzy.

All of them, assures the doctor, They do not have any major impact on women’s health.

But for it to be effective, If the woman has vomited within two hours of taking it, she should take the pill again. Additionally, if nausea persists, you have the option of using the medication vaginally.

The doctor also clarified that Emergency contraception does not pose a risk of overdose and has no interactions with other medications or contraindications.

Fake.

It is common to hear the myth that the morning-after pill is a “hormone bomb.” However, according to Matrona Reyes, This belief is false. So much so that you can take more than one pill during the same menstrual cycle, even if This does not mean that it should be used as a primary contraceptive method.

“Health professionals who are not familiar with it talk about a hormone pump and say that this would limit its use to twice a year at most, but that is not true. THE World Health Organization (WHO) and other reputable organizations fully support that emergency contraception is very safe and can be used as many times as needed.

Fake.

According to the protocol of the Undersecretary of Health for the delivery of the morning after pillits use has no effect on future fertility. In other words, its use is safe and, when the woman decides, she can become pregnant normally.

And the hormones in the emergency pill are metabolized in the body within a few days.

ActuallyUsing the morning-after pill does not affect a possible pregnancy during the next sexual intercourse.