Can pregnancy occur even after taking an emergency pill?

Question

Hello doctor,

I had unprotected sex with my fiancee on the seventh day of ending her period and she took the emergency pill within 12 hours and her period cycle is around 33 days. After 16 to 17 days of having pill she got light bleeding that lasted for around five days. Are there any chances of pregnancy?

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I just want to be clear that no birth control pill or any family planning method that can give 100 % assurance that you will not get pregnant. It only decreases a significant percentage of the chances. So yes, she can be pregnant but if she took an emergency pill then it gives her only 75 % chance of getting pregnant. The spotting after ECP (emergency contraceptive pills), usually 5 to 10 days after is what we call withdrawal bleeding. This is expected since the hormone Progesterone in the emergency pill is so high, it can cause spotting or bleeding after. I suggest you take a pregnancy test after one week and if it is negative, then you are safe.