Alesse as emergency contraception

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-03-2004
Alesse as emergency contraception
2
Sun, 10-03-2004 - 11:59pm
I'm new to this site but I had a question about the morning after pill. I used to be on Alesse but went off of birth control pills a few months ago due to side effects (moodiness, etc). Yesterday my boyfriend and I were having sex and afterwords when the condom came off I think there was some spillage. I'm just worried that this means I could possibly get pregnant, so I was thinking I could take some of my old Alesse pills as emergency contraception. I read they could be used that way but I'm really worried about getting really sick because a few years ago I was on Ortho Tri-Cyclen and took two pills at once (I had missed one the day before) and got really nauseus and dizzy. Does anyone have any advice? Is it okay to self-dose like this? Thanks!
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Mon, 10-04-2004 - 8:38am
Hi emilykate392, welcome!

If there was spillage and you were fertile there is a possibility of becoming pregnant. On the EC site: http://ec.princeton.edu/ it says that Alesse can be used as emergency contraception as follows:

“Take 5 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex and take 5 more pills 12 hours later: Alesse.”

However, If I were you I would take them under the direction of your doctor or perhaps s/he would want to prescribe something else. Nausea can be a side effect of such a large dose of hormones. ECs effectiveness decreases the longer the interval between the event and taking it so please call your doctor right away. Let us know how you're doing, ok?

Hugs,

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-03-2004
Mon, 10-04-2004 - 12:33pm
Thanks so much! I looked at that website and bookmarked it for future reference. Then I did call my doctor's office and they said that taking the recommended dosage from that website was correct. I took the first 5 pills a while ago and I don't feel fantastic but I don't feel terrible either so I think that's good. Thank you again!!