How does it work? of Emergency contraception

Home

Health encyclopaedia - Alphabetical Topic List

| A |

| B |

| C |

| D |

| E |

| F |

| G |

| H |

| I |

| J |

| K |

| L |

| M |

| N |

| O |

| P |

| Q |

| R |

| S |

| T |

| U |

| V |

| W |

| X |

| Y |

Emergency pills release the hormone progestogen and work in three possible ways:

they can prevent ovulation (an egg being released),
delay ovulation until a safe time,
or prevent implanting (when a fertilised egg settles in the womb).

Because of the ways that emergency pills work, periods may occur later or earlier than expected. If you are concerned, see your GP. There is no evidence that if pills fail they will harm a developing baby.

The copper IUD works by stopping sperm from reaching the egg. It does this by releasing copper into the body, causing an increase in white blood cells in the cervix, which kill sperm. IUDs also make it harder for the egg to travel along the fallopian tubes and settle in the uterus.