Patient's question:
Doctor, yesterday when I got into bed with my husband, I didn't use a condom. This morning I took emergency contraception, then had breakfast. At noon, my friend told me that you shouldn't eat anything within 2 hours of taking emergency contraception. I'm very worried now. Could you please tell me if taking emergency contraception and then eating food within 2 hours will have an effect?Doctor's answer:
Generally, emergency contraception pills are recommended to be taken on an empty stomach. It is advised not to eat or drink anything within two hours of taking the medication. Therefore, the situation described by the patient may potentially affect the effectiveness of the drug, although the likelihood of pregnancy is still considered to be very low.Currently, the patient should pay close attention to observing any side effects of the medication. This type of drug typically contains hormones, and withdrawal bleeding may occur again several days after taking it, resembling a normal menstrual period. Additionally, it may disrupt the endocrine system, leading to irregular menstruation. It is recommended that the patient avoid using this medication in the future.