How do emergency contraceptive tablets prevent pregnancy?

Question

Hello doctor,

My girlfriend and I had protected sex on the 7th day of her period. She took an Unwanted 72 within two hours after sex. She experienced bleeding four days later, which lasted for three days and required the use of pads. Now, it has been 32 days since that withdrawal bleeding, and she has not gotten her period yet.

Please help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

If she has taken the pill within two hours, it is unlikely that she could be pregnant. It could be the side effect of the Unwanted 72.

Did you have unprotected sex again in the meantime?

Anyway, if you are worried, get a blood test for pregnancy—beta HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin). If it is negative, she is not pregnant. Just wait for the period; it will come eventually. A urine test for pregnancy can also be done, but it sometimes gives false negatives. The pill has a lot of side effects. Without a test, no one can say whether she is pregnant or not, except for an ultrasound.

I hope this helps.

Kindly follow up if you have more concerns.

Thank you.