Morning After Pill

poppymae

I took Levonelle morning after pill last monday & then yesterday (Sat) I got what seems to be a period. I have only recently finished my period so wasn't due another one for a few weeks.

I wonder has anyone else experienced something like this after taking the morning after pill?

gonker

http://www.ppsp.org/askbeth/archives/2003_01.asp about half way down the page
but ring the doctor to double check

poppymae

Tks Gonker

Think I'll stick to that advice - give it a couple of days & then go to doc!

Cheers

Gordon

Yes, please call the doctor.

poppymae

I thought that doctors would be required to explain possible side effects etc?

I paid €50, was in with the doctor less than 2 minutes - no kidding - he took my blood pressure, asked me when the accident happened & told me the receptionist would give me the pills! And that's it. He didn't tell me how to take them or what side effects might occur.

Have other women experienced this problem?

Surely doctors are required to treat you the same as any other patient (i.e. explain drug to you etc) or is it just because you're taking the "morning after pill" that they don't feel obliged to tell you a thing?

gonker

that is disgraceful behaviour by any doctor...You took extremely high doses of a female hormone it is not just "a pill" you have to take them at the right time for them to work etc. Ring one of the family planning clinics IFP i think they are called you will find them on the net and see what they say tell them about the doc too.
And Good Luck
gonk

Capt'n Midnight

Originally posted by poppymae
I thought that doctors would be required to explain possible side effects etc?

I paid €50, was in with the doctor less than 2 minutes - no kidding

http://www.medicalcouncil.ie/professional/ethics.asp
It is the statutory duty of the Council to consider all complaints about alleged lapses from such standards.

Ethical Guide 6th Edition 434KB

3.3 Information for Patients
A request for information from a patient always requires a positive response.
In general, doctors should ensure that a patient and family members, subject
to patient consent, are as fully informed as possible about matters relating
to an illness.
Patients do not always fully understand the information and advice given to
them by doctors. They should be encouraged to ask questions. These should
be answered carefully in non-technical terms with or without information
leaflets. The aim is to promote understanding and compliance with recommended
therapy. The doctor should keep a note of such explanation and if
it is felt that the patient still does not understand, it may be advisable to ask
the patient’s permission to speak to a relative.
...
3.6 Fees
Doctors’ fees should be appropriate to the service provided. Patients should
be informed in advance of the consultation and treatment what the costs are
likely to be.
...
3.10 Communication with Patients
Many complaints to the Council refer to lack of communication, or discourtesy,
on the part of the doctor. Where differences have arisen between the
doctor and the patient or the patient’s relatives there is much to be gained
and rarely anything to be lost by the expression of regret by the doctor.
Doctors may have been inhibited by feeling that any such expression would
amount to an admission of liability; this is not necessarily so.

Johnny Versace

It's pretty normal to have a very messed up cycle after taking the morning after pill.

Girls I know who have taken it have all gotten their period early or a very long light period or a very short period.

I wouldn't stress over it...

Chinafoot

yeah as far as i know this is normal and is pretty much how the pill is supposed to work. you lose blood because the pill is shedding the lining of the womb so the embryo cant attach itself.....ie: no pregnancy.

well thats what i always thought anyway.

lisa.c

not being nasty here but come on in all fairness in this day and age accidents should not happen there is so much contraception available that accidents should be a thing of the past... fair deuce to ya though for taken action as early as you did at least you are responsible in that department. as for your doctor...girl get a new one if im paying someone that money i want a proper service. you should report him for his ignorance to your needs. good luck i hope all will be ok....

Zulu

Originally posted by lisa.c
not being nasty here but come on in all fairness in this day and age accidents should not happen there is so much contraception available that accidents should be a thing of the past...

FFS :rolleyes:
Condoms split amazingly! If they were indestructible, they would make spaceships out of them.

lisa.c

well if a women does not want to fall pregnant then shouldnt she ensure that she and partner use more than a condom.... gone are the days when it was the men who provided contraception its up to women now to

Zulu

Originally posted by lisa.c
well if a women does not want to fall pregnant then shouldnt she ensure that she and partner use more than a condom.... gone are the days when it was the men who provided contraception its up to women now to

While I agree with you. A woman mightn't be on the pill. The only form of contraception available at 2am on a saturday are condoms - that I'm aware of.

Beruthiel

stick to the topic of this tread please
B

Zulu

read the charter

drusilla

What worries me is that some women tend to use the morning after pill as a contraceptive, without realising the dangers of it. Excessive use has been linked to a higher probability of getting cancer; if used more than twice the probability goes up etc...

Now anyone who has had to use the morning after pill would not be jumping back to try it again, as it has nasty side effects: nausea and cramps and bleeding. It is indeed only advisable in an emergency situation.

It shocks me that your doctor was so flippant in dispensing the medicine without explaining the risks and associated side effects to you that you would have to come here to find out! However, I'm not surprised, its quite often here in ireland that there is a stigma associated with the EBC, due to the churches opposition to it.
Here in NUI Galway, for years there was no student doctor that would prescribe it, due to personal opinions on t. Thankfully that situation has now changed, but only very recently.:dunno:

Aurther Hugh

I heard that the morning after pill you get these days is perfectly safe to use as many times in a lifetime as you want and you don't need a nausea tablet when you take ie.

LegacyUser

Originally posted by drusilla
Here in NUI Galway, for years there was no student doctor that would prescribe it, due to personal opinions on t. Thankfully that situation has now changed, but only very recently.:dunno:

How recently? On a visit to their student health centre about 9-10 years ago, I was asked why there were so many prescriptions of the MAP on my medical record (i.e. their records as they didn't have any records from my GP at home) if I was on the regular pill at the time. This was news to me as I'd never been prescribed the MAP!

drusilla

I heard that the morning after pill you get these days is perfectly safe to use as many times in a lifetime as you want and you don't need a nausea tablet when you take ie.

This is only the case with

Originally posted by Galwaygrad
How recently? On a visit to their student health centre about 9-10 years ago, I was asked why there were so many prescriptions of the MAP on my medical record (i.e. their records as they didn't have any records from my GP at home) if I was on the regular pill at the time. This was news to me as I'd never been prescribed the MAP!

drusilla

I heard that the morning after pill you get these days is perfectly safe to use as many times in a lifetime as you want and you don't need a nausea tablet when you take ie.

That is only the case with the new versions of the progesterone tablet that significantly reduces nausea. However it is the ase that doctors can prescribe the older versions too.

Originally posted by Galwaygrad
How recently? On a visit to their student health centre about 9-10 years ago, I was asked why there were so many prescriptions of the MAP on my medical record (i.e. their records as they didn't have any records from my GP at home) if I was on the regular pill at the time. This was news to me as I'd never been prescribed the MAP!

My god! That's awful! what a mess up. perhaps they confused the pill with the MAP?
AFAIK, the MAP hasn't been available in the health unit until this year, after much campaining. It may have been the case that it was available before my time in NUIG(the last 3 years.)

StickyMcGinty

stupid question...

where do you get the morning after pill from?? Prescription? how much?

must tell the gf these things!

Webmonkey

Originally posted by VinnyL
stupid question...

where do you get the morning after pill from?? Prescription? how much?

must tell the gf these things!

amm ok not a stupid question if it was a girl asking but i'm sure your gf is capable findin this information, but also she probably knows it already...i wouldn't tell her if i were u