What is the chance of pregnancy after taking ECP?

Question

Hi doctor,

I had sex with my fiance for four times in the last 24 hours. Some of it was unprotected but we did use a condom each time and he ejaculated into it each time as well. But, in between he does not remember there was a high possibility that the pre-ejaculatory fluid contained some active sperm. It was during my most fertile window period that I had sex. I have taken a morning-after pill within the 72 hour window and lots of online forums stated that the probability of getting pregnant is really low. My worry is that I have had an accidental pregnancy before wherein even though I had taken the morning-after pill within 6 hours; it completely failed to prevent it.

Please help.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

The success of emergency contraceptive pill (ECP) like an I-pill or unwanted-72 remains 99 percent when the withdrawal bleeding is experienced within next 5-7 days thereby ruling out pregnancy completely due to shedding of endometrium. Another option besides ECP is to use an intrauterine contraceptive device like copper-T within 72 hours of intercourse which can again prevent pregnancy and it is also 98-99 percent successful but not advised for women who have not delivered yet. So, in your case one has to say that you have done the right thing and if you have taken a morning-after pill within 72 hours then you should not get pregnant. Contraceptive failures may occur and hence no pill is 100 percent protective. However, you may undertake a serum beta-hCG test (human chorionic gonadotropin) after 7 days post-intercourse if the bleeding does not start to rule out pregnancy, anyhow to be conclusive.

Answer 2

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com

Yes, one can get pregnant with precum fluid (pre-ejaculatory fluid) as well because it contains live sperms. A withdrawal bleeding is a menstrual bleed that you get within 5-7 days after the ECP intake where endometrium is shed off thereby reducing any chances of an implantation and hence preventing pregnancy. The earliest you can detect pregnancy is after 8 days post last intercourse with a serum beta-hCG test where if hCG levels are less than 5 ng/dL, then you are surely not pregnant. So, if the withdrawal bleed missed then the next step is to get a serum beta-hCG test.