The only FDA-approved emergency contraceptives available in the US are Plan B, Plan B One-Step, and Ella. Plan B and Plan B One-Step are available over-the-counter to women 17 years of age or older, Ella is only available by prescription.

The pill can be taken up to 72 hours after unprotected sex, but the sooner you take it the more effective it will be.

What It Is
It is one of the first and only forms of emergency contraception available on the market today.

What It Isn’t

it is NOT an abortion pill (do not take if already pregnant, or you think you are)
it is NOT protection from HIV / Aids or any other sexually transmitted diseases or infections (STDs or STIs)
it is NOT a long-term pregnancy prevention plan (it only works for this one incident after taken)
it is NOT a regular form of contraceptive (if you’re sexually active, discuss available contraceptives with your doctor)
it is NOT a substitute for routine birth control

What It Does

Temporarily stops the release of an egg from the ovary
Prevents fertilization
If the egg is already fertilized, it prevents the egg from attaching to the uterus

The Plan B pill contains a form of progestin called levonorgestrel which works by preventing ovulation and may also interfere with fertilization of an egg. It is also possible that it prevents implantation of a fertilized egg in your uterus by altering its lining.

The Plan B Pill is not an abortion pill. If you are pregnant, or think you might be, you should not take it however there is no evidence that it will harm you or the fetus.

Pros and Cons
There are two main benefits associated with the Plan B pill:

They decrease the risk of an unintended pregnancy by up to 89%
There is no known risk of harm to the fetus if you do get pregnant or are already pregnant

There are several disadvantages to emergency contraceptive pills:

Women under 17 cannot get these pills without a doctor’s prescription
The pills must be taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex to be effective
Side effects may include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, fatigue, breast tenderness, and headache
The pills do not protect against sexually transmitted diseases

There are no medical restrictions on taking the Plan B pill more than once a month however it should only be used in emergency situations. The idea behind it is that you only have to take it once, or very rarely. Plan A is always the best choice so it’s important that you speak with your doctor regarding a long-term contraceptive plan that’s best for you.

For more information on the Plan B Pill and disadvantages of using the Plan B pill, please read the Morning After Pill Side Effects.

Its mode of operation is similar to that of the contraceptive pills and injections. The implant keeps releasing a small amount of hormone into the body at a steady pace. Before deciding to get the implant, one must ensure that they are not pregnant. To ensure this the implant must be inserted within the first five days of a woman’s period

The implant must be inserted in a doctor’s office or a clinic. This procedure is done under local anesthesia. After application of some numbing medicine, the skin is pierced with a special tool known as an inserter and the implant is slipped under the skin. During removal, a small half-inch incision is made just under the skin and the implant is then removed with the use of forceps.

The implant inhibits ovulation and also prevents the sperm from penetrating the cervix by thickening the mucus at the entry of the cervix.

WHY GO FOR IT?

A contraceptive implant lasts for three years and the user does not have to remember to use it everyday. There is absolutely no interruption with sexual intercourse and it is relatively cheap. This method is best for those who cannot remember to swallow pills. It is possible to get pregnant immediately after the implant is removed meaning secondary infertility is not likely with this method.

However like all other hormonal methods, implants may cause changes in menstruation. Some women will experience absent periods while others bleed heavily. Apart fro alteration of menstrual periods, other possible side effects of implants are vaginal dryness, breast tenderness, back pain, nausea and dizziness. Also women with histories of blood clots, heart attack / stroke, liver disease or breast cancer should avoid implants. Some medications and herbal products can affect the working of the implant. Women using implants as their choice birth control method have a higher chance of ectopic pregnancy. It is important that users keep track of the removal dates because the implant will be ineffective after the removal date has passed.

IT’S NOT PERFECT!

A contraceptive implant will not in any case protect against sexually transmitted infections and therefore it is important for the users of implants to practice safe sex. A back up method e.g. condoms should be used beginning immediately after insertion up to about two weeks. The bruising associated with the insertion of an implant may cause some discomfort for a few days. There is yet to be a consensus on whether or not contraceptive implants do cause weight gain. Some people argue that since it is a hormonal method of birth control, it is bound to cause weight gain while others disagree based on experiences.

This processes are popular with some people, while others find them to be too time consuming. This method must be proper and consistent. If this is not done there is a good chance of becoming pregnant. However, when practiced well, they have been shown to be quite effective. Since they are dependent on the cooperation of both partners, using them for short periods is not appropriate.

It should be noted that they offer no protection against sexually transmitted infections. To prevent the spread of this infections use condoms each time you have sexual intercourse. This form should only be used within the confines of a long term, committed relationship.

There are ways in which one can check. Use your finger or tissue to wipe across the opening of vagina and then take a look at the mucus. Examining any cervical mucus that may be left on a liner. Getting a sample of your cervical mucus inside the vagina is the best method. It takes some practice to be able to examine the consistency. You can try by stretching the mucus between your thumb and index finger. If it stretches at least three inches without breaking. You can assume ovulation is about to occur.

To avoid unwanted pregnancies, sex should be avoided from the time the slippery, stretchy mucus is noticed to at least two days after it is gone. This method needs to be combined with another to offer better insight as to when the fertility has peaked. By itself, it is not as reliable as other methods of birth control. Training in this technique by a doctor or trained medical professional is highly recommended.

In the medical field. It is common to find terminology like contraception, pregnancy prevention, fertility control, and family planning. This not withstanding, sexually active women have a variety of methods to choose from. At this stage it is important to mention that all methods work in either of this two ways. Prevent fertilization or the fertilized egg from attaching itself to the womb for development. Abstinence is the only one that is fool proof.

We call them natural methods because they neither use mechanical means nor hormone manipulation. They only work by ensuring that when the sperm is available it will find no egg. If the egg is available there will be no sperm.

It is heavily reliant upon the woman understanding how she ovulates each month. For effectiveness it is necessary to keep track of this signs and symptoms. This knowledge will help you to determine if ovulation has taken place or is about to. They can be very effective or ineffective. The rule of the thumb here is continuous, conscious commitment with considerable monitoring and self-control. It is possible to use this same methods to promote conception where it is desired.

Real women sharing their personal experiences and testimonials of different types of Birth Controls they’ve tried on the market.

Visit us at: http://www.birthcontroltoday.com.

Learn pro’s and con’s of different types of contraceptives. Videos of real life stories of women going through the contraceptive experience and sharing their true story.

Some side effects that need to be monitored while usage are in particular the headaches, nausea, bleeding other than periods, decreased libido and tenderness of the breasts. The pills basically function by having estrogen that enables one to not conceive the child. However, the effects of this estrogen can be adverse on a woman’s health as it tends to raise the chances of blood clots, causing women to develop emboli and thus, cardiac problems. Women, who in particularly smoke and use alcohol are at a further increased risk of getting hypertension, cardiac problems and may face even grace consequences such as strokes due to the emboli formation.

Other than this, birth control side effects also include severe migraine attacks and a greater risk of breast cancer. These pills tend to cause increased mutations, thus being quite dangerous to even those who already have breast cancer.

Because these pills tend to alter the hormone level of the body, they do tend to have certain endocrinal effects. The hormones of the body are altered which can also cause depression and moodiness in many women. A lot of women do not feel like continuing their sexual relations as a result of the effect of these pills. A lot of research has been conducted about the safety and other concerns regarding the birth control pills. It is also found that due to the hormone altering effect of these pills, women also tend to have problems in lactation after child birth. They tend to produce less milk due to the hormone altering effects of the pills. Many women also find it difficult to conceive a child after the discontinuation of these pills, as the effect of its chemicals remains on the hormones for quite some time.

Some women also feel a change in their metabolic patterns of the body and tend to gain weight, have increased appetite and an increased food craving because of the pills.

Despite having some long lasting hormonal effects, contraceptive pills are known to be one of the safest methods of birth control. However, one needs to have proper consultation and guidance from the doctor before taking any sort of birth control pill.

If you found this article useful and would like to get more information on birth control side effects visit this site for more plus articles on birth control effectiveness too.

1. Try using birth control – Using birth controlling methods are one of the best ways to avoid pregnancy. Always settle on a birth control strategy. You can use the natural way or the artificial way. There are various choices you can choose from. You can use the calendar method, abstinence or basal body temperature for the natural ways. For the artificial ones, you can use pills, intrauterine device, condoms and all other contraceptives. You can always visit the family planning experts and seek some counsel. They are greatly equipped with much knowledge and they are fit to educate you with the advantages and disadvantages. Stick with what you have chosen and see its effectiveness.

2. Recognize signs of ovulation – For women, it is important that you know some signs of ovulation. Ovulation is the time when a female egg is released into the fallopian tube to unite with the sperm. This is actually the root of conception. When you are fertile, it would most likely take a hundred percent possibility of getting pregnant. Knowing the signs of ovulation will help you avoid direct sexual intercourse, therefore, preventing the occurrence of pregnancy. Some signs of ovulation include breast tenderness, clear and sticky discharges.

3. Avoid sex during menstruation – Try to avoid sex during menstruation. You may not be aware of it completely, but there are great chances of getting pregnant when having sex during menstrual period. Menstrual period does not give you the exact sign when the ovum or egg is being released. It can be released anytime while you are doing the intercourse. Once the sperm is also released, there is a great probability that you will conceive. The sperm has longer days to live so it can unite with a fertile egg within that span of time.

Avoiding pregnancy can be very easy if you just know what to do. Try considering these effective ways and you will surely achieve your goal of preventing conception to happen.

Elizabeth is a passionate writer. She has been writing online articles for three years now. You can check out her latest article girls leggings and black leggings on her website.

Dress neatly

An old rule says that women like undressing men who are nicely dressed. Now, you don’t have to wear that marriage suit but make sure that you look smart and attractive. Spend some time on yourself. You can visualize it yourself. If a girl is to choose between a man neatly dressed and a dullard who wears loose clothes that hardly fit him, who do you think will she choose? Actually, your “neatly dressed” image will linger in her mind even after she has undressed you.

Proper lighting

You must have heard professional photographers say that you look great when the light is appropriate. Bad lighting can make even a six pack look flat and so you must use it well to look good. You can replace the bright bulbs with soft lights to make the whole room look cosy and warm. Gentle yellow lights are even better.

Body language

Get the basics right and everything else will follow. Stand straight with confidence and walk like you have a goal. Also, a droopy body language reveals your body fat more than an erect position. Have some attitude and hold your head high.

Aroma therapy

Research shows that a man’s sweat turns a woman on. No matter what research says, do not go to a woman when you are sweaty and stinky. She is more likely to fake a headache if you stink like a car. Wear the right perfume and ensure that you take a shower before you even go out, let alone getting intimate.

Use proper contraception

Do not forget to use proper contraception that will not only protect you from sexually transmitted diseases but also help you prevent an unwanted pregnancy. Condoms are the most used form of contraception.

In case you have not used contraception at night

If you have forgotten to use contraception, you can ask your partner to use post-coital contraception for women. ellaOne and Levonelle are two effective emergency contraceptive pills that have helped millions of women prevent unwanted pregnancies. Levonelle can be taken up to 72 hours after unprotected sexual intercourse, while ellaOne works up to 120 hours after unprotected sexual intercourse. Both these drugs are effective and convenient for usage. They work by thickening cervical mucous and, thus, making it difficult for sperm to attach itself to the uterus. Also, they prevent ovulation and this is how pregnancy is prevented. Since these are prescription drugs you need to consult a doctor before using them. Do not use them regularly. As the name suggests, use them only during an emergency or else the risk of side effects will increase.

The HealthExpress in UK provides genuine emergency contraception medication. Visit to know more about how ellaOne and Levonelle helps after having unprotected sex.

Contraceptive methods

Oral pills or birth controlling pills

The birth control pills are most commonly used methods among women’s. Most oral pills consist of two types of synthetic hormones- progestin and estrogen, these hormones prevents ovulation from ovaries. This method is more effective if a woman takes a pill daily at the same time each day for 21 days of cycle.

Possible Side effects:

Nausea, Headaches, Breast tenderness, depression, weight gain, bloating, acne and increased blood pressure.

Condoms

This method is also the most popular and commonly used method. It stops the sperms from entering into the uterus and prevents pregnancy. This method can be 99% effective if it is used with vaginal spermicide.

Male condom is a flexible and thin tube made up of latex rubber or polyurethane. Male condom is rolled over the erect penis before the intercourse. It is risk free contraceptive method, which reduces chances of pregnancy and STDs, including HIV/AIDS.

Female condom is a soft tube made up of polyurethane. It has O-rings on both the ends. It is worn inside the vagina.

Possible Side effects

Some women’s are allergic to latex.

Emergency method- Morning after pill.

If there is an unprotected sex or a failure in a contraceptive method during sexual intercourse, then morning after pill or emergency contraceptive method is must used to avoid unwanted pregnancy. It inhibits fertilization or implantation and stops pregnancy. These pills can be taken up to 72-120 hours after the unprotected sexual intercourse.

Possible Side effects

-Bloating, Discomfort, Breast tenderness and Lower back pain.

Depo-Provera Hormonal Injection.

Hormonal Injection works in similar way like birth control pills. In this method a Synthetic Progesterone hormone is injected in the female body, which stops ovulation from ovaries. It prevents pregnancy for three months or for 13 weeks.

Possible Side-effect:

-Irregular menstrual periods, weight gain, headaches, depression and possible bone mineral loss.

Hormone patch (Ortho-Evra)

The patch of hormones called estrogen and progestin are worn on the skin. These hormones are absorbed through the skin to the bloodstream and prevent ovulation. This contraceptive method is 99% effective, if it is used correctly. It is important that first you consult a doctor if patch is right for you or not.

Possible side-effects

-Blood clots, irregular bleeding, breast tenderness, nausea, skin irritation and cramps.

Sterilization method.

It is a permanent birth control method for both male and female. Sterilization for male is called vasectomy and for female it’s called tubal ligation. This is a surgical procedure in which vas deferens (the tube that carries sperm from scrotum to penis) of male and the fallopian tubes (the tube leading from ovaries to uterus) in female are cut, clamped and tied. This sterilization contraceptive method is most effective and reliable for all those couple who don’t wish to have a child anymore.

Intrauterine device(IUDs)

These devices are inserted into the uterus by a medical practitioner and can be left for a week. IUD is a T shaped plastic or copper and plastic devices which contains leveonorgestrel hormone, it stops sperm and egg to fertilize.

Possible side effects:

-Abnormal bleeding, abdominal pain, pain during sexual intercourse, chills and fever.

Diaphragm

Diaphragm is dome-shaped device with flexible rim. It is made up of rubber and silicon and can be reused. It is use with spermicide. It prevents sperm to enter into uterus. It is less effective than other contraceptive methods.

With the right type of contraceptive method, you can make a proper family planning and have a child when you wish. In additional, some of contraceptive methods can protect you from sexually transmitted diseases like AIDS.

(c) Copyright- Vikas Beck. All Rights Reserved Worldwide. For more information on Health & Fitness you can visit http://ehealthinfotips.blogspot.com/

The use of emergency contraception has never raised any serious safety concern. The two most popular brands available in the UK – ellaOne (ulipristal acetate) and Levonelle (levonorgestrel) – are clinically tested to be safe and effective in women who take them after sex to avoid becoming pregnant.

How safe and effective is ulipristal acetate?

Clinical trials have shown that ellaOne is one of the most effective EC pills when it comes to preventing unwanted pregnancies. It is reported that about 98% women taking this pill immediately after unprotected sexual intercourse can dodge a pregnancy they do not want. Taking an ellaOne pill any time within 120 hours can also protect you against pregnancy, but it is advisable that you pop it immediately after sex (preferably within 3 hours).

Another plus factor of ellaOne is that you can take it during your current menstrual cycle. But if there is any unusual delay in your next period, or if you experience abnormal bleeding, talk to your doctor and get a pregnancy test done.

Who should not take ulipristal acetate?

The effectiveness of this pill is not tested in women who are under 18 years of age. Also, do not take it when you are already pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you are already using another emergency contraceptive. In case you have severe asthma but cannot fully control it by taking oral glucocorticoid, ulipristal acetate may not be a safe choice for you.

How safe and effective is levonorgestrel?

Levonelle is another popular choice among sexually active women wanting to take charge of their life. You can take a levonorgestrel pill within 72 hours from unprotected sexual intercourse to avoid pregnancy. But just like ellaOne, the effectiveness of Levonelle increases if you take it quickly after sex, preferably within 12 hours. Levonorgestrel works by blocking the ovaries from releasing eggs and altering the natural lining of the womb. It is reported that about 95% women can prevent pregnancy by taking levonorgestrel within 24 hours after sex. The percentage drops to 85% when the pill is taken on the second day and 58% when taken on the third day.

You can take Levonelle any time during your current menstrual cycle. But do consult a doctor when the next cycle is delayed by 7 days or more.

Who should not take levonorgestrel?

If you are hypersensitive to any of the ingredients of Levonelle, including its active ingredient levonorgestrel, you should not take this medicine. A woman under 16 years of age should not take it unless prescribed by a doctor. ‘You need to talk to your doctor before taking levonorgestrel if you have severe hepatic dysfunction, malabsorption syndromes, galactose intolerance, glucose-galactose malabsorption or Lapp lactase deficiency.

Both ellaOne are Levonelle are generally safe and effective as far as pregnancy prevention is concerned. But you should always remember that they are for emergency use only and under no circumstances should you discontinue with your regular contraceptive method. If you are looking for a sexual life with ‘no strings attached’, insist your boyfriend wears a condom every time you have sex.

Alvin dior an author of few health websites. By this article we focused on how information which will guide you about your emergency contraceptive pill is safe or not.

Contrary to popular opinion, the after-effects of these products are often fully reversible after one has commenced and completed his or her treatment process. These techniques of contraception typically will refer to birth control methods that are acting mainly on the endocrine system. Popular examples of these would include the pill (which is the most common technique), patches, injections, intra-uterine systems, implants and finally the progestogen-only pill that is often referred to as the mini-pill.

Nowadays, nearly four million females within the United Kingdom itself are utilizing these contraceptive devices to help control fertility as well as prevent pregnancies from happening. They are also utilized to help treat particularly heavy periods of endometriosis as well as to help get rid of severe premenstrual symptoms. However, these products do not help to prevent one form obtaining STDs or sexually transmitted diseases.

The monthly cycles of a large majority of women are in fact regulated by two main hormones, namely oestrogen and progesterone. The former hormone tends to rise rapidly after her period which causes an unfertilized egg to develop in her ovaries through a process known as ovulation. The latter hormone comes into play by helping the lining of one’s womb to grow thicker in preparation for a fertilized egg.

The egg that is produced will that fall naturally down the woman’s fallopian tubes and her body will naturally absorb the egg away if it does not cause her to become pregnant. After this happens, the levels of both hormones within the woman’s body will start to drop and her womb lining will start to tear away gradually, and become disposed through a process known as a menstrual period.

The way in which these contraceptive products tend to operate is by containing many artificial or synthetic variants of the two hormones normally produced by a woman. When they are utilized correctly, they have the ability to interfere with one’s regular monthly cycle and this in turn, will help to cease the process of a normal pregnancy.

In general, these contraceptive function in three ways. Firstly, by preventing one’s ovaries from releasing the egg in the first place. Secondly, by thickening the cervix, which is the neck of the womb, thereby making it that much more difficult for the male sperm to enter. Finally, it may also operate by making the womb lining become too thin for a fertilized egg to be implanted into.

There are many more interesting and useful facts about these products that one should know about, and this article only offers a superficial coverage. By everything to know about Hormonal Contraceptives for women, one will be able to gain more insights on how these products are able to function.

Real women sharing their personal experiences and testimonials of different types of Birth Controls they’ve tried on the market.

Visit us at: http://www.birthcontroltoday.com.

Learn pro’s and con’s of different types of contraceptives. Videos of real life stories of women going through the contraceptive experience and sharing their true story.

Hormonal contraceptives for women work on the principle of altering a woman’s hormonal level slightly so that ovulation does not take place.

It also alters the environment of the cervix and uterus slightly so that it becomes an inhospitable place even if fertilization does occur. These hormonal contraceptives for women permit women to have sex throughout the month without having to fear about pregnancy and without expecting the man to wear a condom. There are many advantages of using these contraceptives and there are now quite a few varieties available apart from the humble pill.

Woman today can choose between hormonal patches, injections or implants in case they wish to enjoy a trouble free love life. These hormones are administered by doctors after a proper evaluation of the woman’s health in order to assess whether she will benefit from them. There are obviously differences between the various types of modern hormonal contraceptives for women but the common factor is that she does not have worry about birth control once the hormones are administered for up to 3 years in certain cases.

A woman can have a trouble free sex life with contraception on her terms if she uses these hormonal contraceptives. She just has to stop using them in case she wishes to try to get pregnant. However, there are certain disadvantages to using hormonal contraceptives for women as many ladies have found out. Their biggest drawback is that they do nothing to protect her against sexually transmitted diseases since there is no physical barrier between the woman and her sexual partner. A woman who has many sexual partners can put her life at risk if she does not use condoms and prefers to use these hormonal methods instead. Many women are not even aware of this fact and are effectively having unsafe sex with multiple partners.

The other problem with this method when compared to barrier methods of birth control is that they alter the hormonal balance of the body. This might have some negative side effects such as excessive bleeding, painful breasts or even weight gain. Many women are not convinced about the benefits of these hormonal contraceptives purely because of these negative side effects.

Like any other type of birth control, hormonal contraceptives for women have to be used responsibly. If this is the case then the advantages of this method outweigh the disadvantages greatly. This is the reason that this method of birth control is increasing in popularity with women all over the world who do not want to depend on men to make decisions regarding family planning.

Author writes Lady info blog. If you want to read more articles from the author visit http://www.ladyinfo.com website.