how safe is the morning-after pill?
A The morning-after pill is effective only up to 72 hours after intercourse but the level of protection declines dramatically during that time. In the first 24 hours it prevents 95 per cent of pregnancies, but that figure drops to 85 per cent within the next 24 hours and only 58 per cent if taken after that. Using the morning-after pill twice in one month does suggest that you ought to be investigating a more reliable form of contraception and that you have not used a condom means that you may have exposed yourself to sexually transmitted infections (STIs). However, in terms of safety, there is no medical evidence to indicate that taking it more than once in a cycle will cause you any long-term health problems. Our own Dr Mark Porter describes it as “incredibly safe”, though he emphasises the need for other forms of contraception. That said, the morning-after pill can disrupt the regularity of your menstrual cycle, and since getting your period is your main way of knowing whether you a
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