Pill after intercourse - an abortion pill to terminate a pregnancy
Although pregnancy is considered in society as a kind of wonderful period, which every woman remembers with enthusiasm and joy in her heart, there are still situations when the arrival of offspring is not exactly more unacceptable for a woman. Financial, age or relational circumstances are mostly to blame for this, but a big, often indigestible truth for society is also that not every woman wants a baby. A pill after intercourse is used for such purposes.
Author:Victoria Clark
Updated: 18.12.2023
When the pregnancy is really announced, the woman should have the opportunity to decide whether she wants this situation to continue, given her current situation. While abortions performed by doctors are legal in Slovakia, our legislation has not yet been developed to such a stage that it would facilitate women's access to such a procedure in the form of abortion pills.
The process of terminating a pregnancy using an abortion pill
Although in the case of chemical abortion it is a "normal" pill ingestion, which opens the door to the possibility of terminating the pregnancy at home, and thus in complete comfort, even in foreign countries it is recommended that this process be carried out under the strict supervision of a doctor.
It is a very painful process, which is accompanied by various symptoms similar to menstruation, such as heavy bleeding, headaches and lower abdominal pain, but also spasms, feelings of nausea or vomiting. However, these symptoms are much more intense.
The pill should be taken within three months, more precisely between the 49th and 63rd days of pregnancy, and termination of pregnancy after this fixed interval is only possible surgically. Chemical abortion consists of three steps, about which the patient should be informed in detail by the health professional providing this care.
First of all, it is necessary to give the pregnant woman the first abortion pill in the form of mifepristone, which serves to stop the production of progesterone, and therefore the hormone that conditions the course of pregnancy. After taking the first abortion pill, a woman should stay in the hospital under medical supervision for at least an hour, due to the potential complications that the medication may cause.
Within the next 48 hours, the second pill should be taken, namely misoprostol, which causes contractions and spasms of the uterus, which leads to the gradual washing out of the fetus from the woman's body. In some countries, these pills can also be taken at home after strict medical instructions, but in the Czech Republic, an abortion through medication usually includes hospitalization in a hospital, where doctors have the patient under a microscope.
It should be mentioned that such a chemical abortion does not happen with the snap of fingers, and the woman must prepare for two to three weeks of intense bleeding. After this time, the third step in the process of taking the abortion pill comes, namely a visit to the doctor due to the necessary medical check-up, on the basis of which the doctor can assess whether the abortion was successful.
Risks of the abortion pill
The abortion pill may not be 100% effective for every woman. It has even been confirmed that in up to 7.5% of women the pregnancy continues despite taking these medications, which leads women to the necessary surgical intervention.
In addition to this risk of incomplete functionality of abortion pills, complications in the form of inflammation and allergic reactions must also be considered. These are pills that may not suit every woman. That is why it is recommended to use them under medical supervision.
Complications also lie in the symptoms that appear as a result of artificial termination of pregnancy. Long-term bleeding, which is part of this process, can cause difficulties in a woman's daily life, in the form of fatigue, excessive exhaustion, nausea, dizziness or headaches.
You have to realize that even if these symptoms are similar to the menstrual symptoms that a woman is normally used to, they are more intense and extreme. Therefore, if a woman is employed or has other responsibilities that she cannot renounce for a long period of time, it is necessary for her to monitor her health and save as much as her daily life allows. In addition, after taking the abortion pill, another pregnancy is possible only in three months.
The abortion pill is not for everyone
Just anyone cannot take the abortion pill until the 9th week. In addition to the fact that it is necessary for a woman to fall within the recommended time interval within the length of pregnancy, it is also necessary to take into account her state of health. If a woman has had a cesarean delivery in the past or a myoma of a larger nature was found on her uterus, doctors definitely do not recommend the abortion pill.
In addition to these aspects, it is necessary to take into account whether the woman smokes, but also heart and kidney diseases, diabetes, anemia or the current level of cholesterol. Artificially inducing an abortion through a pill can even be risky in the case of women older than 35 years.
It is therefore very important for a woman to discuss her entire medical history with a specific doctor, on the basis of which the specialist can determine whether the pregnant woman is a suitable candidate for a chemical abortion.
The pill after intercourse and its effects
If a woman wants to avoid an unwanted pregnancy or possible termination of this condition by surgical abortion or the form of an abortion pill, it is advisable to think about contraception. In the event that all forms of protection fail, e.g. condom, irregular use of hormonal contraception, there is a so-called emergency contraception.
The pill against pregnancy after unprotected intercourse can be obtained in any pharmacy without a prescription, but from a financial point of view it is not one of the cheapest medicines. For example, a woman will pay approximately 17 euros for such a pill "after" Escapelle, while the package contains only one pill.
However, it is possible to find other drugs on the market, such as Navela, ellaOne or Apreg, which are at a lower or higher price level compared to the emergency contraception Escapelle. The effectiveness of any of these pills after intercourse largely depends on the phase of the cycle in which the woman is currently.
While before ovulation, emergency contraception prevents the ovulation process itself, after the release of the egg from the ovary, the used pill creates a kind of "hostile zone" for the attachment of the maturing egg after contact with the uterine mucosa. Of course, if the egg is implanted in the uterus, emergency contraception has no chance of disrupting this condition in any way.
It is therefore necessary for a woman to take the "after" pill on time, within 72 hours after intercourse. The effect of the pill can be observed due to bleeding, which should start within 5 to 14 days after its ingestion. If this does not happen, it is advisable to take a pregnancy test.
Side effects are also a natural part of such a radical hormonal intervention in the female body. One pill after intercourse contains the same amount of gestagen hormone as ten pills of hormonal contraception. Its consumption can be accompanied by dizziness, headaches and pain in the lower abdomen, excessive fatigue, cramps and, with the highest probability, a completely scattered menstrual cycle.
In connection with the pill after intercourse, it should be noted that it does not always have a 100% effect. If a woman uses it in the first 24 hours after intercourse, it is possible that the chances of its effect increase up to 95%. Under no circumstances should the pill be taken after intercourse by girls under 16 years of age, nor by women with breast or uterine cancer, and it is not recommended even in the case of liver function disorders and a high risk of blood clotting.
Abortion pill - experience
As simple as the process of chemical abortion in the form of an abortion pill sounds, many women who have experience with this form of abortion would not wish it on anyone. While some women were forced to take the abortion pill due to problematic postpartum body cleansing, others terminated pregnancies with complications in this way.
However, they all agreed that the effects and associated symptoms of the abortion pill are extremely harrowing and unpleasant, and can often lead to hospitalization. Regardless of the situation a woman is in, it is necessary to evaluate all her options, because no form of termination of pregnancy comes without extreme intervention in the woman's body.
The most frequent questions - FAQ
Did you finish reading our article, but feel that it lacks information that you are really interested in regarding the abortion pill? Can't you find them even in the question and answer section? Feel free to ask us your questions in the comments section. We will try to answer all your comments as soon as possible.
What is the price of an abortion pill?
How often can I take an abortion pill?
What is necessary if I want to have an abortion with a pill?
How do I find out that the pill has not worked after intercourse?
Pridať komentár
