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Can Ella Prevent Pregnancy?
Okay so I will start with I recently had unprotected sex on October 3rd with the result of my bf ejaculating inside me. October 5th I went to planned parenthood to get emergency contraception. They gave me a pill and I took it. Okay so this past Wednesday, foolish me had unprotected sex again with the same result. Today I had protected sex but the condom ended up breaking resulting in another fail. Now I obviously need to get another emergency contraception pill but will it be safe? The first one I took was a generic version of plan b but after doing some research, I came across that women with a bmi of over 25, has a less effective chance of plan b working. I have a bmi of 29. I m 21, 5 3 and weight around 160. I was looking into Ella which is targeted to heavier women. I really want it and am planning on going to planned parenthood tomorrow and getting it. Any thoughts? Is this safe? Its less then 72 hours, will it still be as effective?
Mon, 18 Jan 2016
Hallow Dear,
Ella is ulipristal acetate which acts as emergency contraceptive pill by preventing egg release (ovulation) for 5 days from the injection of the pill. So once the period of five days is over, the action of these pills is over. For any other unprotected intercourse(s) beyond this period do require fresh protection. You had such intercourse very soon after the first pill for which you repeated the pill again.
And now you have landed in a unexpected sexual event wherein the condom broke inside the vagina.
Your question that how many times you can repeat these pills is very valid. Well, theoretically, it should give you protection against the pregnancy. However, I have another thought and option for you.
If you get intrauterine device fitted in within 5 days of the unprotected sex, it will give you protection against the pregnancy due to the this intercourse no doubt; moreover, you continue to have it inside your uterus and hence you will have continued on going birth control in you for some more years to come. As it is, it is only 3 days from the incidence. You may think of this option seriously. This will take away all the stress of intended, unintended or accidental unprotected intercourses.
I hope you take a logical, scientific, convinient and informed decision and choose between taking the emergency contraceptive pills repeatedly and getting the intrauterine device inserted.
Dr. Nishikant Shrotri
Ella is ulipristal acetate which acts as emergency contraceptive pill by preventing egg release (ovulation) for 5 days from the injection of the pill. So once the period of five days is over, the action of these pills is over. For any other unprotected intercourse(s) beyond this period do require fresh protection. You had such intercourse very soon after the first pill for which you repeated the pill again.
And now you have landed in a unexpected sexual event wherein the condom broke inside the vagina.
Your question that how many times you can repeat these pills is very valid. Well, theoretically, it should give you protection against the pregnancy. However, I have another thought and option for you.
If you get intrauterine device fitted in within 5 days of the unprotected sex, it will give you protection against the pregnancy due to the this intercourse no doubt; moreover, you continue to have it inside your uterus and hence you will have continued on going birth control in you for some more years to come. As it is, it is only 3 days from the incidence. You may think of this option seriously. This will take away all the stress of intended, unintended or accidental unprotected intercourses.
I hope you take a logical, scientific, convinient and informed decision and choose between taking the emergency contraceptive pills repeatedly and getting the intrauterine device inserted.
Dr. Nishikant Shrotri
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