A night of passion can often result in a rather stressful next day, plagued with thoughts of an unwanted pregnancy. Unprotected sex can often lead to you frantically looking for ways to prevent pregnancy. While using a condom, or any form of protection can be used to prevent pregnancy, what happens if it breaks? Or if you choose or forget to use it? Taking an emergency contraceptive pill is often the most used contraception after unprotected sex, there are other ways too.

Can pregnancy be avoided after unprotected sex?

Pregnancy can often be avoided after unprotected sex, if appropriate steps are taken promptly. Nearly half of pregnancies in the United States are unintended, and unintended pregnancy is linked to many negative outcomes for both women and infants, states the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Emergency contraception is designed to prevent pregnancy and is most effective when used as soon as possible after unprotected intercourse. Options include emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs),” explains gynaecologist and obstetrician Dr Gayatri Deshpande.

How to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex?

There are a few ways to try and prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex. While some of these might not work for you, others might give you more promising results.

1. Take an emergency pill

Emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs) are the most common medications used to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex. “These include Levonorgestrel (Plan B One-Step, Take Action), available over-the-counter and most effective within 72 hours of intercourse, and Ulipristal Acetate (Ella), which requires a prescription and can be effective up to 120 hours (5 days) after intercourse,” says Dr Deshpande.

2. Improve your regular birth control pill intake

The Yuzpe method involves taking higher doses of regular birth control pills under medical guidance, says Dr Deshpande. This can also prevent pregnancy. A study published in the Am Fam Physician, states that if 100 women have unprotected sex during the second or third week of their menstrual cycle, there is a high probability that eight will become pregnant. However, if the Yuzpe method is used, only two women will become pregnant, which is about a 75 percent reduction in the possibility of pregnancy. Check out more information about the safety of birth control pills, and their side effects.

3. The Lactational Amenorrhea Method

This method is a possibility for breastfeeding moms. Breastfeeding as a contraceptive method, can be used as well. “Exclusive breastfeeding or Lactational Amenorrhea Method (LAM) can temporarily prevent ovulation. You will need to track menstrual cycles to avoid fertile periods,” says Dr Deshpande. A study published in the Open Access Journal of Contraception, states that LAM is very effective in preventing 98 percent of unwanted pregnancies in postpartum women. However, this is not always accurate, and cannot be tried right after having unprotected sex.

4. Copper or hormone IUD

Getting a copper or hormone IUD is another way to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex. This can work even 120 hours, or five days, after intercourse. A study published in Contraception claims that an IUD can work two weeks after unprotected sex as well. However, this is a long-term solution, and if you would like to conceive after this, an IUD removal would have to be done. IUDs cause a reaction that’s toxic to the sperm and will prevent all future pregnancies. It is possible to become pregnant with IUDs too, but the possibility is extremely rare.

Do home remedies to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex work?

There are many natural methods and home remedies that appear online if you search how to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex. However, it should be noted that natural methods to avoid pregnancy after unprotected sex are generally less reliable than medical interventions, says Dr Deshpande.

FAQs

Can peeing after sex prevent pregnancy?

Peeing might not prevent pregnancy as the sperm would have already travelled into your body. However, try to remove any extra fluid by pushing down your genitals while sitting on the bathroom seat. A study published in BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, showed that women who did not have access to a toilet within the house had a higher risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Are there any supplements that you take that would help avoid pregnancy after unprotected sex?

There are no supplements that are proven to effectively prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex, says Dr Deshpande. Reliable methods for preventing pregnancy in such situations are limited to emergency contraceptive pills.

When can you not get pregnant even after unprotected sex?

Pregnancy is unlikely if unprotected sex occurs during certain times such as the menstrual period when ovulation has not yet occurred, infertile phases shortly before menstruation in a regular cycle, or immediately after ovulation when the egg is no longer viable. However, these are not guaranteed safe periods and should not be relied upon to prevent pregnancy.

What are the side effects of these treatments, and how to handle them?

Emergency contraceptive pills can have side effects such as nausea, fatigue, headache, dizziness, breast tenderness, and menstrual changes. “Taking the pill with food can reduce nausea, and over-the-counter pain relief can help with headaches and breast tenderness. Ulipristal Acetate can also cause abdominal pain, which should be managed similarly,” says Dr Deshpande. Consulting a healthcare provider is important to discuss the most appropriate method and manage any severe side effects effectively.

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