What Are The Side Effects Of The Morning After Pill?

The Emergency Contraception pill is also known as the Morning After pill or Plan B because it is not a primary form of contraception. Some of the chief side effects that have been noted, which, except in unusual cases resolve themselves in 24 hours were:

• Nausea is the most often reported side effect of the morning after pill. Users of the combined regimen pill, which uses estrogen and progestin reported a higher degree of nausea. Actual vomiting is however not common.
• Abdominal Pain is another side effect reported by women.
• Fatigue is another side effect noted from use of the emergency contraceptive pill.
• Head ache and dizziness are other symptoms noted from use of the Plan B pill
• Breast tenderness or increased sensitivity and even pain in the breasts were noted by some women.
• Spotting or small quantities of blood may be noticed particularly if the morning after pill is taken after ovulation.
• Temporary disruption of the menstrual cycle is another commonly noted side effect of the morning after pill. This is however not seen to delay a period over a week. If the delay is more than a week, the probability of a pregnancy having occurred would have to be considered.
• Severe side effects include severe abdominal pains, shortness of breath, chest pains, severe headaches, blurred vision or other eye problems and leg or arm pain/numbness.

The morning after pill should not be taken by those with severe liver disease or those with the rare condition called porphyria.