Pill afterwards: FAQ for costs, risks & effects of emergency prevention

Table of contents

It is women who take care of the topic of contraception in the majority of cases. And they are the ones who have to take care of the consequences if contraception does not work, that is, when a woman becomes unintentionally pregnant. This is particularly serious if, for whatever reason, there is no desire to have children and pregnancy is out of the question.

A situation in which the woman has to find out well and usually have to act promptly. Because if there is already a pregnancy and then a woman has to have an abortion, she makes herself punishable. Even today, an abortion in Germany is unlawful, according to paragraph 218 of the Criminal Code.

For the current occasion: abortions remain illegal

The fact is: women who have to or want to abort pregnancy do not have an easy way to go. Disruption of pregnancy remains punishable in the first twelve weeks, provided that the woman gets advised beforehand. However, an abortion for medical reasons or after rape is always unpunished.

At the beginning of February 2025 that isProject failedTo decriminalize abortions in the first twelve weeks of pregnancy. And all of this against the background that abortion is certainly the most difficult decision that a pregnant woman has to make. It is and remains a severe cut for women.

This is precisely why it is important to pay attention to a safe contraception if there is no desire to have children - and ideally do both sides, not just the woman.

If there is still a contraceptive breakdown, it is important for the woman to react quickly, to know opportunities to know what she wants to do and what she can do.

The pill afterwards as a quick option

The pill afterwards is a way to greatly reduce the risk of pregnancy after unprotected sexual intercourse. It is not a regular contraception, but an emergency prevention.

So if you are worried after sex, to become pregnant unintentionally because you had a contraceptive breakdown because, for example, because a condom tears or the pill does not work properly due to antibiotics or gastrointestinal complaints, you should first keep a cool head and Find out in peace.

We want to answer the most important questions here shortly. So: when can the pill be taken afterwards? How does it work? How safe is it? What are the side effects? Here are the most important questions and answers shortly as a FAQ and then in more detail.

FAQ on the subjectPill afterwards

  1. How long after sex can you take the pill afterwards?
    That depends on the preparation. Some can be taken up to 72 hours (levonorgestrel) up to 120 hours (Ulipristalacetate) after unprotected sexual intercourse. The earlier it is taken, the more effective the pill is afterwards.
  2. How does the pill work in the body afterwards?
    The pill afterwards shifts ovulation so that no fertilization can take place. If there is already pregnancy, the pill cannot be ended afterwards.
  3. How reliably does the pill then prevent pregnancy afterwards?
    The effectiveness is around 85 to 98 percent depending on the preparation and the time of intake. However, she is loudGynecologist on the net, less reliable than regular contraceptive methods.
  4. Is the pill available without a prescription afterwards?
    In Germany and many other countries, the pill is then available without a prescription in pharmacies. As a rule, the pharmacists will advise you before delivery.
  5. What side effects can occur?
    The frequent side effects include nausea, dizziness, headache and cycle discretion. However, these symptoms are usually only temporary.
  6. Does the pill then impair the effectiveness of the normal antibabia pill?
    Yes. Taking the pill afterwards can affect the effect of the regular pill. Therefore, like thatHealth portal OnMedawrites, an additional contraceptive protection, e.g. B. by condoms, recommended until the next menstrual period.
  7. Can you take the pill several times in one year afterwards?
    Repeated intake is possible, but the pill should not be used as a regular contraceptive afterwards, since it is less reliable than other methods and can disrupt the cycle.
  8. Can the pill then affect fertility in the long term?
    No. The pill afterwards has no long -term influence on the fertility of a woman. As a rule, the cycle normalizes within one month.

How does the pill work afterwards?

The pill then delayed orsuppresses an ovulation that has not yet taken place. By moving ovulation, the sperm no longer survives long enough to encounter a fertilizable egg cell.

Important: If ovulation has already taken place, the pill can no longer work afterwards.It should therefore always be taken as soon as possible if a contraceptive breakdown.

Unfortunately, ovulation cannot simply be predicted by cycle day counting because it is variable and can occur early, in the middle or late in the cycle. So if you don't want to get pregnant right now, you should use the pill if you contracept the contractions.

Which pills are there? Which is recommended?

The pill of the older generation then contains the active ingredient levonorgestrel (e.g. in the preparation PIDANA®). If you take this pill at least two to three days before ovulation, ovulation is delayed or suppressed - fertilization is thus prevented. Shortly before ovulation, however, Levenorgestrel is no longer effective.

A pill has been on the market since October 2009. It contains the active ingredient Ulipristalacetate (in the preparation of Ellaone®). This also prevents or delays ovulation, but also appears shortly before ovulation, in the most fertile phase of the cycle. This pill afterwards can be taken up to five days after unprotected sexual intercourse and is now considered the standard method due to its effectiveness.

How safe is the pill afterwards?

Comparison studies show that the active ingredient uliPristalacetate can protect more effectively from unwanted pregnancy than the pill afterwards with a leva tires. Ulipristalacetate even works until immediately before ovulation - even on the two most fertile days of the woman. The probability of pregnancy is particularly high on these two days.

In short: afterwards the pill of the newer generation (Ellaone®) is considered safer.

How and where do you get the pill afterwards?

Since March 2015, the pill has been available without a prescription in the pharmacy. Both active ingredients approved in Germany for emergency prevention, Levonorgestrel and Ulipristalacetate are available without a doctor's recipe. Before that, the pill was only received according to medical prescription.

Who advises you on the pill afterwards?

Since the pill has been given over the counter in the pharmacy, many women have been spared the formerly mandatory visit to the doctor. However, if you are unsure and wish to advise a doctor, you can continue to consult your gynecologist.

Advice - whether by a doctor or pharmacist - is advisable in any case. It can only be clarified in a conversation whether the pill comes into question and which of both preparations for which woman is most suitable for which woman in which situation.

What does the pill cost afterwards?

Up to the age of 20, the cost of the pill will be reimbursed by the health insurance company - a prerequisite for this is a prescription from the doctor. However, women between the ages of 18 and 20 have to make an additional payment of five euros, as with other medication in the pharmacy.

Women over 20 have to pay the pill themselves. LoudPro familythe costs are depending on the productBetween 16 and 35Euro.

What side effects are possible?

Like all medication, the pill can then lead to side effects, such as:

  • Headache
  • Weak bleeding (not to be confused with the menstrual period)
  • nausea

However, the side effects are usually moderate.

Important: If you have to vomit in the three hours after taking the pill, it is not effective. In this case, a second pill will be taken afterwards.

Danger:Women who tend to thrombosis should not use a levonorgestrel because this pill can then increase the risk of thrombosis if there is a corresponding previous illness.

You have to consider that after taking it

You should first monitor the entry of the next period: the date can easily deviate from the ordinary cycle rhythm. However, if the rule is long in coming than seven days, you should carry out a pregnancy test or see a doctor.

The same applies if the rule appears abnormal: longer or shorter, more painful or stronger than usual.

Anyone who takes a classic anti -Babyill should continue taking the following day normally and also use a barrier method (e.g. condom) to the end of the cycle.

Alternatives: copper chain afterwards or copper spiral afterwards

There is also an alternative to prevent unwanted pregnancy if - for whatever reason - you do not want to or can not take any hormonesOr the copper spiral afterwards.

Both must be used by the gynecologist within five days of unprotected sex. Copper influences the vitality of the sperm and the egg cell and prevents a fertilized egg cell nesting in the uterus.

Unlike the pill afterwards, the copper spiral or copper chain is a long -term contraceptive and is usually used for five years. The costs are accordingly higher. (Then copper spiral 130 to 180,- Euro, copper chain afterwards between 300 to 350 euros).

Conclusion

Taking the pill afterwards is intended for an emergency to prevent unwanted pregnancy. If the pill is quickly applied afterwards, it can significantly reduce the risk of pregnancy. However, it is not intended to replace a conventional contraceptive method.

Pill, copper spiral,, 3-month injection or condom: There are many ways today to safely prevent. The best thing to do is simply ask your gynecologist for advice.

->

You might also be interested:

Sources:

Important NOTE:This article only serves the information and does not replace a medical diagnosis. If uncertainties, urgent questions or acute complaints arise, you should contact your doctor or ask for advice in the pharmacy. Medical on -call duty can be reached via nationwide number 116117.