LifeChoice Pregnancy Care Center

Morning After Pill (MAP) Information

Answer these questions before taking the MAP

• Do I know how the Morning After Pill works?
• What are the risks of the Morning After Pill?
• It's not an abortion, right?
• Am I pregnant?

We are here to help you answer these questions.
Call us at 307-632-6323 or 1-800-395-HELP.
You can also contact us by email.

I've heard of the Morning After Pill. What is it?

The Morning After Pill, or Emergency Contraceptive (EC), is a high dosage of birth control that can be taken within 72 hours after intercourse. It is used to either prevent or end a pregnancy.¹
There are different kinds of emergency contraceptive, the most common being Plan B. With any brand, there are a set number of pills that need to be taken at two different times: the first within the first 72 hours and the second 12 hours later. Depending on where you in your menstrual cycle, the pill could work one of three different ways:

1. By supressing ovulation (prevent the egg from leaving the ovary.)
2. By thickening mucous in the cervix which will block sperm passage.
3. If the egg has already been released, the lining of the uterus will become hostile and reject implantation.²
   

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Are there any risks if I take the Morning After Pill?

Yes, there are possible side effects. They can vary from person to person, but can include³:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Irregular and unpredictable menstrual periods (especially when used multiple times)
• Ectopic (tubal) pregnancies, which can be life threatening
• Breast tenderness
• Infertility

There are currently no studies that show what the long term effects the Morning After Pill can have on women.
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If I take the Morning After Pill, it's not like I'm getting an abortion, right?

It can be a chemical abortion. If the egg has already been fertilized (has met with the sperm) and conception has taken place, the pill can cause the uterine wall to reject implantation, causing the fertilized egg to be dispelled from the body.⁴
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If there is a chance I'm already pregnant, can I still take the Morning After Pill?

The makers of emergency contraception recommend taking a pregnancy test before taking the Morning After Pill to rule out a pregnancy from a previous cycle. They state repeatedly that it should not be taken if you are already pregnant. The effects of doing so are not known because no direct studies have ever been done.⁵
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References
1.	http://www.morningafterpill.org/mapinfo1.htm
2.	"The Morning After Pill: Get the Facts," Heritage House '76, Inc. 2004.
3.	Ibid
4.	"The Truth about Emergency Contraception," Focus,n the Family F00341T, 3. 2005.
5.	Ibid