Despite how commonly used they are, many people still get confused between birth control pills and the morning-after pill. In this article, we will go through both of the medications for a deeper understanding.
So, what are birth control pills, and how do they work? Birth control pills are tablets taken regularly by women to prevent unwanted pregnancies.
This is how the magical pill works; Pregnancy-controlling medications contain synthetic versions of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. In order to prevent eggs from maturing and the lining of the womb from evolving sufficiently for a fertilized egg to implant, these synthetic hormones help maintain a woman’s body’s natural estrogen and progesterone levels. In addition, the thickening of the cervical mucus due to controlling these hormones makes it more difficult for sperm to reach the egg.
Emergency contraception pills, also known as the morning-after pills, are quite different. This contraceptive pill is normally used to prevent pregnancy for women who have had unprotected sex or whose normal birth control process has been unsuccessful. In simple terms, the morning after pill is intended for backup contraception only.
The next obvious question is how does it work. After intercourse, emergency contraceptives (the “morning-after pill”) are administered. The morning-after pill works either by delaying the production of the luteinizing hormone that triggers ovulation. By delaying or stopping the egg from being released, the sperm can’t reach the egg, and pregnancy can’t occur.
However, it is important to note that the morning-after pill will only work if ovulation has not already occurred. Studies show that women who used emergency contraception before ovulation had considerably lower pregnancy rates. Women who used emergency contraception after ovulation had the same pregnancy rate as women who did not use it.
Logically, everything that has strengths also possesses weaknesses. Digging deeper into this conversation, we have to cover the advantages and disadvantages of these two types of pills. To start with the birth control pills, the first and the main strength of birth control pills is that they prevent unwanted pregnancies. They also help lessen the pain triggered by menstrual cramps, protect against certain cancers, and help keep acne under control. However, like other medications, they carry some dangers and adverse effects that should be considered. These include a higher risk of blood clots and a slight increase in the likelihood of developing breast cancer.
The next stop of our dialogue is the strengths and limitations of the morning-after pill.
Strengths
- It might be the only option if you want to prevent having a baby.
- You don’t need a prescription to get morning-after drugs if you’re 17 or older.
- Preventing an unwelcome pregnancy is made easier with the help of these medicines.
Limitations
- It is possible that they will have adverse effects on the body. Nausea, vomiting, dizziness, diarrhea, stomach discomfort, headaches, irregular bleeding, and breast tenderness are all frequent adverse effects of morning-after pills.
- Morning after pills can potentially cause some significant side effects. For example, blood clots in the heart, lungs, or intestines are all possible negative effects of using morning-after pills.
- Women with diabetes, heart problems, or migraines should avoid using these products.
- Women over 35 with cardiovascular disease, deep vein thrombosis, liver disease, or breast cancer may additionally be at risk for side effects from these medications.
To conclude, both birth control pills and emergency contraception are effective ways of preventing unwanted pregnancies and are both easily available at pharmacies. But the morning-after pill should not be relied upon as a long-term solution and should only be used when other methods have failed.