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Should I Have I Pill After An Unprotected Sex?
Question: Hi,
I had sex on 21st May, but for precaution took the i-Pill on 22nd May. I had sex today (25th May) using the withdrawal technique but I am not sure of whether it worked out fine. Will the effect of the i-Pill that I took on 22nd (Thursday) last till today 25th (Sunday) or do I need to take another pill? If I do, what will be the side effects? Before this I have used the i-Pill only once since August 2013.
I had sex on 21st May, but for precaution took the i-Pill on 22nd May. I had sex today (25th May) using the withdrawal technique but I am not sure of whether it worked out fine. Will the effect of the i-Pill that I took on 22nd (Thursday) last till today 25th (Sunday) or do I need to take another pill? If I do, what will be the side effects? Before this I have used the i-Pill only once since August 2013.
Brief Answer:
repeat ipill not recommended
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXX,
Ipill acts by delaying ovulation.
Thus when you had sex on one day and took ipill the egg release may have been delayed.
When again unprotected intercourse happens the egg might get fertilized and pregnancy may occur.
After a ipill in a cycle repeat unprotected acts of sex don't help the cause as I have explained the chance of pregnancy is always there.
As ipill has very high dode of progesterone repeat dose causes irregular bleeding.
Hope this was helpful.
Thanks.
Dr Bhagyashree
repeat ipill not recommended
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXX,
Ipill acts by delaying ovulation.
Thus when you had sex on one day and took ipill the egg release may have been delayed.
When again unprotected intercourse happens the egg might get fertilized and pregnancy may occur.
After a ipill in a cycle repeat unprotected acts of sex don't help the cause as I have explained the chance of pregnancy is always there.
As ipill has very high dode of progesterone repeat dose causes irregular bleeding.
Hope this was helpful.
Thanks.
Dr Bhagyashree
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hi,
A correction: I took the i-pill on 21st May (Wednesday)
For how long does an i-pill delay ovulation? Because I had my last period from 4-8 May and I have a 40 day cycle. So this might be the peak of my ovulation cycle.
And if I do not take the pill, wouldn't it increase the risk of getting pregnant if a little sperm went inside during withdrawal? Or will the i-pill I took on Wednesday (21st May) be still active in delaying ovulation so that I do not need to take the pill today (Sunday). How severe would the side-effects be if I take another i-pill within 4 days. Please let me know.
A correction: I took the i-pill on 21st May (Wednesday)
For how long does an i-pill delay ovulation? Because I had my last period from 4-8 May and I have a 40 day cycle. So this might be the peak of my ovulation cycle.
And if I do not take the pill, wouldn't it increase the risk of getting pregnant if a little sperm went inside during withdrawal? Or will the i-pill I took on Wednesday (21st May) be still active in delaying ovulation so that I do not need to take the pill today (Sunday). How severe would the side-effects be if I take another i-pill within 4 days. Please let me know.
Brief Answer:
irregular bleeding
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXX,
Ipill is a emergency contraception measure.
Even if you have taken correctly there is always a chance of pregnancy because we don't know when you ovulated.
Though chance is lesser than if you don't take ipill.
Repeat ipill may not cause serious side effects but irregular bleeding, prolonged bleeding may occur. Besides the recommendation as per protocol is only one.
Yes there is risk of pregnancy as you had intercourse later. Besides no one can predict ovulation with certainty.
An egg after release can live for 48-72 hours. A sperm for 48 -72 hours.
Thus sex even 2 days before or after ovulation can cause pregnancy.Ipill also has an effect on endometrium so that a fertilized egg cannot implant and grow into a baby.
Thus you can hope that the endometrium changes will not cause pregnancy in your case. If you want to take a repeat ipill please consider all information I have given you.
Thanks
Dr Bhagyashree
irregular bleeding
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXX,
Ipill is a emergency contraception measure.
Even if you have taken correctly there is always a chance of pregnancy because we don't know when you ovulated.
Though chance is lesser than if you don't take ipill.
Repeat ipill may not cause serious side effects but irregular bleeding, prolonged bleeding may occur. Besides the recommendation as per protocol is only one.
Yes there is risk of pregnancy as you had intercourse later. Besides no one can predict ovulation with certainty.
An egg after release can live for 48-72 hours. A sperm for 48 -72 hours.
Thus sex even 2 days before or after ovulation can cause pregnancy.Ipill also has an effect on endometrium so that a fertilized egg cannot implant and grow into a baby.
Thus you can hope that the endometrium changes will not cause pregnancy in your case. If you want to take a repeat ipill please consider all information I have given you.
Thanks
Dr Bhagyashree
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you Doctor for your patience. I calculated that my ovulation cycle is from 24th-29th May, making it the prime time for fertilisation to occur. The reason I am so worried is that though there is a small chance that anything went inside, it might get me pregnant. That's why I wanted to know if the i-pill i took on wednesday would have delayed my ovulation cycle by at least 4-5 days so that I know that I am in the safe zone. I appreciate your patience. Kindly let me know.
Brief Answer:
cannot predict ovulation
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXX,
Thanks for writing.
I have given you all the possible information. No one can tell exactly whether the ovulation has been delayed or absent.
Besides there is no such test available to do
.Even if it had delayed for 2-3 days or 5 days does not matter as I mentioned that both egg and sperm live for 48-72 hours ,some times longer.That leaves quite a lot of room for error in calculation.
You just have to hope that the ipill causes unfavorable effect on the endometrium and that will be enough to prevent pregnancy.
Thanks
Dr Bhagyashree
cannot predict ovulation
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXX,
Thanks for writing.
I have given you all the possible information. No one can tell exactly whether the ovulation has been delayed or absent.
Besides there is no such test available to do
.Even if it had delayed for 2-3 days or 5 days does not matter as I mentioned that both egg and sperm live for 48-72 hours ,some times longer.That leaves quite a lot of room for error in calculation.
You just have to hope that the ipill causes unfavorable effect on the endometrium and that will be enough to prevent pregnancy.
Thanks
Dr Bhagyashree
Note: Revert back with your gynae reports to get a clear medical analysis by our expert Gynecologic Oncologist. Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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