How long morning after pill side effects last?

We’ve all been there – hopping on the morning-after pill after a night of pure debauchery. Yes, we’re talking about that birth-control bombshell that comes holding with some unsettling side effects on its bosom. From stomach upset to fatigue and headaches, nausea ranks as one of the most common price tags of ‘pleasure without precaution’ scenarios.

So how long can you expect these side effects to last you ask in desperation? This article will break down what causes morning-after pill side effects and much more. Strap yourself in because it’s going to be a bumpy ride!

Buckle Up! Here are Common Side Effects You Might Experience

Before diving into how long you should brace yourself for some discomfort, here is an elaborate list of adverse reactions to look out for once you pop your prescribed dosage:

  • Headaches
  • Stomach Cramps
  • Nausea or Vomit
  • Fatigue or Tiredness
  • Dizziness
  • Irregular periods/spotting

Yikes! Sounds pretty scary already. But don’t worry; they usually subside faster than your worst hangover experiences.

Why Does the Morning After Pill Cause Such Unwelcomed Symptoms?

The bitter truth is that synthetic hormones responsible for overwhelming ‘little’ swimmers do not only overtake spermatozoal activity keeping them from fertilising any egg but also throw in enough confusion into our body’s natural hormonal balance throwing us off-balance too(1).

In “layman” – ovulation happens when oestrogen levels dip low enough to trigger follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) release from your brain causing eggs inside your ovaries to mature preparatory towards being released if sperm shows up(2). However, typical oral contraceptives like the morning-after pill provide high levels of hormones sufficient for suppressing ovulation or fertilisation in case an egg gets laid out.

While your body adapts to this hormonal shift causing a delay and/or deviation from regular biological scheduling, you might experience some unsettling discomforts or side effects.

A Timetable of How Long Morning After Pill Side Effects Last

As earlier noted, these symptoms are quite common after administration but should fade off in less than 72 hours. But then again, everyone is different no way around that!

For most women, nausea generally fades away after a day or two; several studies have also shown(3) that while over 40% reported experiencing stomach upset as one of their main concerns post-morning pills dosage – fewer than 10% of participants experienced any adverse reactions within five days of taking the morning-after pill(4).

Aside from nausea and vomiting which rarely last up to three days; headaches sink considerably faster with normal wear-off periods lasting about two days maximum. Even so, it’s best always to consult medical advice if they continue to affect daily activities beyond the given timeframe such as serious ongoing pain above moderate intensity.(5)

Also, one cannot rule other factors like pre-existing conditions and medication interactions influencing recovery timelines here. Self-explanatory: That twap on the wrist by your doctor when trying uncontrollable self-medication (guilty cough cough)?

Tips To Relieve Side Effects Post-Morning Pills

Girl! It’s not bad enough going through what feels like period-cramps without monthly flowers letting anything extra be our enemy too? Thank goodness we’re not helpless! Here are some recommended approaches to ease those uncomfortable side effects fast:

  1. Eat something – Anything ginger-ey stops cramping significantly quicker first time round more often than other home remedies.
  2. Keep hydrated – Drinks loads’a water
  3. Sack out – We LOVE sleep!
  4. Use Over The Counter painkillers – An advil like tablet and some Ibuprofen help lift that fatigue and reduce head pounding.(6)

Final Thoughts

While it’s terrible imagining carrying the bulk of side effects from an unfortunate incident where your private stint turned south, we’ve learned that most don’t last for more than a few days.

Still, one can never be sure when dealing with our bodies natural reactions especially to synthetic compounds so it’s crucial always to consult a doctor before taking any medication(7).

Know anything extra? Share below in the comment section…and hey! Don’t be too embarrassed.

Travel safe ladies!

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