Busting 5 Spooky Morning After Pill Myths

Leaves on the ground? Darker evenings creeping in? Pumpkin spice everything? It can only mean one thing… it’s Spooky Season! And, for us, there’s nothing quite as spooky as misunderstood sex education. We’re busting 5 spooky myths about the morning after pill, so you’re not left scarily unprepared when it comes to emergency contraception.

In order to understand why this is absolutely not true, you need to understand how the morning after pill actually works. The morning after pill can prevent pregnancy by delaying ovulation, so that no egg can be released in the five days after taking emergency contraception (as sperm can survive in the body for up to 5 days). This also means emergency contraception pills like ellaOne®work best the sooner you can take it after unprotected sex, and that if you take it after you’ve already ovulated, it will not have any effect as it can’t terminate or affect an existing pregnancy. It’s really tricky to tell when you’re ovulating, and it can be different every month. If you’re unsure about whether or not you’ve ovulated and are looking to take a morning after pill so you avoid any future frights, a pharmacist or GP should be able to advise you.

Emergency contraception, yes! Daily/regular contraception? No. Whilst the morning after pill can be used if you have a contraceptive failure or have unprotected sex, we thoroughly recommend looking into a more permanent contraceptive option to help keep you safe from unplanned pregnancies and/or STIs. You can take the morning after pill multiple times in your life if you experience an issue with your existing contraception – or if you get caught up in the moment and have unprotected sex – but as emergency contraception is taken after the fact rather than as a preventative measure, it is not intended as a regular contraceptive.

You won’t be covered for any future sex you have after taking the morning after pill, so you’ll need to take another pill if you have unprotected sex again, but researching and finding a contraception that suits you (like the daily contraceptive pill, condoms or IUD for example) is your best bet in the long term. 

It’s 2022. You should be able to do whatever you want. But, saying that, we know that there’s a lot of stigma around having children, especially for women and people with uteruses. We see it as your body, your choice. Whilst some people are still intent on criticising people for their choices, the decision not to have kids is becoming increasingly popular and hopefully more accepted.

There’s nothing abnormal about choosing your own future, living the life you want and only doing what makes you happy. In fact, that should be celebrated. You should be able to call the shots for your own life without worrying about how other people might react. There are many reasons someone may not be able to or simply chooses not to have kids, from environmental factors to health reasons to simply wanting to live their life on their terms. It is all valid. 

There’s nothing quite like the fear of being judged – and nobody should be judged for seeking emergency contraception. The way we see it, being proactive enough to try and access the morning after pill is a part of sexual empowerment, looking after yourself and making sure you’re protecting yourself against unplanned pregnancy. It shows a level of respect for yourself, and we think that should be celebrated. We know some people have their prejudices and assumptions – and that there is still a lingering sense of shame and stigma around sex in general in this society – but don’t let other people’s beliefs dictate your life.

A pharmacist is a medical professional, and should always act in a professional manner. You shouldn’t feel any judgement from the pharmacist when you are purchasing emergency contraception over the counter. There are some questions you need to answer when purchasing the morning after pill, but these questions should be asked discreetly. Remember, the pharmacist’s only concern should be making sure you get the best and most suitable treatment.

This one comes down to personal preference. The GP is there if you need them, or if you specifically want to see them and have the morning after pill prescribed. Or you might want to pop into the pharmacy and speak to a pharmacist about getting emergency contraception and any questions you might have. Alternatively, we know that life can get busy, our schedules can fill up and, of course, we don’t plan for contraceptive failure or an accident. If your situation is time sensitive or you’d simply prefer it, you can buy morning after pills like ellaOne® online at ellaOne Direct, where we offer free next day delivery in discreet packaging.

It can be pretty scary out there trying to navigate the world of emergency contraception and dodge the myths we seem to hear so much of, so we hope that’s cleared a few things up for you and you’re feeling more comfortable and confident in your knowledge about hormonal emergency contraception.

If there’s a myth or question we’ve not answered here, check out our Ask Ella page. Should you notice something that we haven’t covered, you can get in touch using the hashtag #AskElla, or email us at ellaone@dirtandglorymedia.com

ellaOne® 30mg film-coated tablet contains ulipristal acetate and is indicated for emergency contraception within 120 hours (5 days) of unprotected sexual intercourse or contraceptive failure.