Emergency contraception generally refers to the process by which women take emergency contraceptive pills after having sexual intercourse without contraceptive measures or after contraceptive failure, such as a broken or slipped condom.
It is usually effective within 72 hours after intercourse; the shorter the time between taking the medication and intercourse, the greater the chance of successful contraception, although there is still a small possibility of contraceptive failure in some cases.
Emergency contraceptive pills essentially contain large amounts of progestins, and the dosage of progestins that women intake from one use of emergency contraceptive pills is multiple times that of regular contraceptive pills.
However, the intake of a large amount of progestins can cause a significant impact on a woman’s endocrine system and may even lead to menstrual irregularity; therefore, the use of emergency contraceptive pills should not exceed three times a year. Below are the possible side effects of emergency contraceptive pills.
1. Irregular bleeding from the uterus
As mentioned earlier, the main component of emergency contraceptive pills is a substantial amount of progestins. The intake of large amounts of exogenous progestins can trigger a reflex disorder of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis.
This means that the central organ responsible for signaling the ovaries to secrete hormones rhythmically becomes disordered, leading to disturbances in the body’s endocrine system, which can cause irregular bleeding from the uterus in women.
2. Irregular menstruation in women
Aside from irregular bleeding from the uterus, the short-term intake of a large amount of exogenous progestins can also trigger menstrual irregularities in women. After taking emergency contraceptive pills, most women will have their menstruation as expected, but a small number of women may experience significant delays during their expected menstrual timeframe, at which point they should be cautious of the possibility of unexpected pregnancy.
3. Impact on normal ovulation and changes in ovulation rhythms
The intake of large amounts of exogenous sex hormones can disrupt the reproductive endocrine system in the body, and the use of emergency contraceptive pills can simultaneously affect the normal rhythm of ovarian tissues, influencing ovulation and contributing to menstrual irregularities in women.
4. Health risks from unexpected pregnancy after contraceptive failure
Emergency contraceptive pills have a certain remedial effect after sexual intercourse, but they cannot guarantee effectiveness, and some women may still experience contraceptive failure.
In the event of a contraceptive failure leading to unforeseen pregnancy, it can significantly impact a woman’s normal life. If a woman chooses to undergo an abortion after an unexpected pregnancy, it can cause considerable harm to her body and endometrium, and in severe cases, may even lead to infertility.
As mentioned, the contraceptive effect of emergency contraceptive pills is not 100% guaranteed and can bring many side effects; therefore, they should not be used as regular contraceptive methods.
During sexual intercourse, both men and women should be responsible for each other’s health and adopt effective contraceptive measures such as using condoms, taking regular short-term oral contraceptives, or using subcutaneous implants for contraception.
Moreover, for couples who are married and have children, long-term contraceptive methods such as IUDs, tubal ligation, and vasectomy can be employed.
Additionally, methods such as withdrawal and calendar-based contraception have high failure rates and are not advisable choices for effective contraception. Finally, it is hoped that women can minimize the intake of emergency contraceptive pills, take appropriate contraceptive measures, maintain their health, and lead happy lives.
