Getting the morning after pill "just in case"?

LegacyUser

Well, the situation is, my girlfriend and I are in our mid twenties and in a very stable, happy long-term relationship. Over the years, she's tried several different types of contraceptive pills and patches etc, but none of them have suited her body at all. And when she stops using them, it takes ages for her health to get back to normal.

At the moment, we're just using Durex extra-safe condoms. Last time she went to the doctor, she was prescribed yet another type of pill, and she bought the six month supply of it but it's sitting at home unused. She just can't bring herself to put her body through all that crap again, and that's fair enough.

I'm well aware that condoms aren't 100% effective, but the thing is, while we really don't want her to get pregnant right now, it wouldn't be a massive disaster at the same time. We'd manage financially, I think, just about. So at the moment we're thinking we'll just keep using the condoms and take our chances.

What I'm wondering is, would the doctor be likely to give her a prescription for the morning after pill, and then she could get it and have it in the house just in case the condom ever split? She'd probably never even have to use it, but it would be good to have it there just to give us a bit of additional peace of mind.

Thanks!

dudara

I don't think that any doctor is going to prescribe a 'preventative' dose of the morning after pill (MAP). The MAP is quite a high dose of hormones, and they're reluctant to prescribe it multiple times.

Your girlfriend might consider contraceptive devices such as the IUD or other internal devices. She should discuss them with her doctor.

LegacyUser

dudara wrote: »

I don't think that any doctor is going to prescribe a 'preventative' dose of the morning after pill (MAP). The MAP is quite a high dose of hormones, and they're reluctant to prescribe it multiple times.

Your girlfriend might consider contraceptive devices such as the IUD or other internal devices. She should discuss them with her doctor.

Unfortunately her doctor is very reluctant to go down that route, as she hasn't had any children yet. We wouldn't like to risk not being able to have kids in a couple of years, when we're more ready for it.

Lollipops23

dudara wrote: »

The MAP is quite a high dose of hormones, and they're reluctant to prescribe it multiple times.

I think the OP meant would a doc give her the prescription for 1 dose "just in case"? OP if the worst does happen, it's very easy to get your hands on it these days. She can make an appt at quite short notice and if she goes to a family planning place she can even get the MAP there and then.

LadyMayBelle

I'm sure she could. Technically I could go to the doc now whether i needed it or not and ask for it and have one at home I guess.. the amount of hormones in it tho wrecks your system, wouldn't want to be often she does it.

lolli

There are other types of contraception other than the pill and condoms. Perhaps one of those would suit her better.

Have a look at this.

http://www.thinkcontraception.ie/contraception.asp

shellyboo

OP, find another doctor. There are doctors out there who will prescribe the IUS/IUD for women who haven't given birth - women's health specialists are much more open-minded about it, I've found.

As for the MAP, I don't think any doctor would give you a "preventative" dose. I'm actually in the same situation as your gf, can't take any sort of hormonal contraception as it sends me loopy. I'm
hoping to get the Mirena IUS fitted soon!

LegacyUser

LadyPennyworth wrote: »

I'm sure she could. Technically I could go to the doc now whether i needed it or not and ask for it and have one at home I guess.. the amount of hormones in it tho wrecks your system, wouldn't want to be often she does it.

May I stress, we aren't considering this as a way to forget about condoms the odd time, and have her take the MAP the next day. We've been together for several years now, and have always been very careful about contraception. But once, last year, the condom broke. We were on holidays abroad at the time and getting the MAP would have been very difficult. Fortunately she was on the pill at the time so we didn't need to worry, but that experience did give us a bit of a fright! Which is why we're looking for a back-up to condoms.

We both have friends who have taken the MAP and we're aware that it's a pretty horrific experience, so hopefully even if we had it there she'd never have to use it.

lolli wrote: »

There are other types of contraception other than the pill and condoms. Perhaps one of those would suit her better.

Have a look at this.

http://www.thinkcontraception.ie/contraception.asp

For all those methods, either she's tried them already or there are medical reasons that she can't!

shellyboo wrote: »

OP, find another doctor. There are doctors out there who will prescribe the IUS/IUD for women who haven't given birth - women's health specialists are much more open-minded about it, I've found.

As for the MAP, I don't think any doctor would give you a "preventative" dose. I'm actually in the same situation as your gf, can't take any sort of hormonal contraception as it sends me loopy. I'm
hoping to get the Mirena IUS fitted soon!

The doctor did say she'd prescribe it if we really really were sure it's what we wanted, but the fact is, it's important to us to be able to start a family in a couple of years, and we'd hate to risk jeoparadising that. I know it's only a small chance, but my OH would find it hard to deal with if she did end up infertile as a result of getting the coil. Also, when they're less likely to stay in when you haven't had kids, it seems like a lot of hassle when it mightn't even work.

I'd still be in favour of giving it a go tbh, but herself has pretty much definitely decided against it.

shellyboo

Hmmm. I'd still say it's worth getting a second opinion... I've never heard that it's less likely to stay in, or affects fertility long-term.

Anyway, if she's got her mind made up, there's nothing you can do about that, it's essentially her decision. Emergency MAP is just that and having some on standby is something that I highly doubt any doctor would be ok with. Perhaps talk to a doctor about doubling up on barrier protection? The contraceptive sponge or diaphragm plus condoms will offer more protection without hormones.

cherrycool

Doctors don't prescribe the morning after pill just to have handy around the house, your girlfriend would have to tell the doctor that she had had unprotected sex within the last 24 hours or so. Also, there is no need to have one around 'just in case', if you ever find youself in that situation sure you can just go to the doctor then and get it, it doesn't need to be taken immediately! Obviously, the sooner the better within 72 hours, but if you have an accident one night, going to the doctor the next morning is perfectly fine.. hence the name, 'morning after'.