If you have taken the pill the next day, you will be worried about whether or not there is a possibility of pregnancy, and the truth is that your doubt is expected because the effectiveness of this medication is not 100%.
This is a hormone and therefore disrupts the normal menstrual cycle. The rule may or may not appear on the scheduled day. Do you want to know how long the morning after pill can delay menstruation? To continue reading this FastlyHealarticle, you will find the necessary information to understand how the morning after medication works, what effects it has on your menstrual cycle, and how many days to wait until your period arrives.
Table of Contents
How does the morning-after pill work?
The morning-after pill is an emergency contraceptive method. It is used only if other ways to prevent pregnancy were not used, if the technique has failed or if it is forced sexual intercourse. It should not be used for regular contraception, as it is less effective than others and does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases.
It is a hormonal medication, and the most used is composed of 1.5 mg levonorgestrel, which can be taken in one dose or divided into two doses during the menstrual cycle.
Its way of acting is as follows:
- Inhibiting / delaying ovulation.
- Preventing the ovum from being fertilized since it makes the mucus thicker, and the sperm cannot advance.
This effect is only achieved if the pill is taken within 24 hours after unprotected sexual intercourse and up to 72 hours after it. Still, knowing that the sooner it is taken, the more likely it is that pregnancy will be avoided.
Its effectiveness is more significant if used two days before ovulation (in a woman with a regular cycle, this occurs on day 14 of the menstrual cycle).
It is essential to clarify that you must continue using the contraceptive method you used. If you usually use hormonal contraceptives, you must use a condom until the period arrives because the morning after pill generates changes in the female cycle and does not avoid pregnancies in other unprotected sex.
Does the morning-after pill delay my period?
What usually happens is that the rule drops on the same date that it usually does. It can be advanced several days or delayed.
If it is delayed, it does so for 5 to 7 days. This is so because altering the normal functioning of the hormonal signals sent by the ovary to the uterus takes longer to detach and generate menstrual bleeding.
If the delay in menstruation is more excellent than seven days, it is advisable to perform a pregnancy test because that possibility may exist.
How long can the morning-after pill delay my period?
The morning-after pill can delay menstruation in a few cases (4 to 8%). It is usually delayed about five days from the expected date, and, at most, you can wait for the menstruation to drop up to 7 days.
This is so in a woman with a regular menstrual cycle. Ovulation usually occurs on day 14, and her cycle lasts 28 days.
If, on the other hand, it is someone with irregular menstruation and there are doubts about a possible pregnancy, it is suggested to carry out a pregnancy test if the rule does not appear until 21 days after taking the pill the next day.
How do you know if the morning after pill worked?
The only way to know if the morning-after pill fulfilled the sought objective is to wait for the rule’s arrival.
You will only know that you are not pregnant if your period arrives. If this does not arrive, you should take a pregnancy test. As seen in the previous section, you can wait up to 21 days after taking the morning-after pill or up to 7 days after the day your period should have arrived.
If you have doubts, it is best to consult your trusted doctor.
This article is merely informative. At FastlyHeal .com, we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to How long does the next day pill delay menstruation? We recommend that you enter our category of Female reproductive system.
I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.