Patient's question:
My menstrual cycle has always been irregular. What will happen if I take emergency contraception?Doctor's answer:
Taking birth control pills does not guarantee successful contraception; there is still a certain failure rate. Moreover, the failure rate of emergency contraception pills is significantly higher than that of conventional methods, such as condoms and regular birth control pills. Post-coital measures are, of course, not as effective as taking precautions beforehand. Therefore, relying on emergency contraception pills for birth control greatly increases the risk of failure. Generally, emergency contraception pills contain higher levels of progesterone than regular birth control pills, leading to more side effects. These are not long-term adverse effects but rather short-term issues like nausea, irregular periods, etc., which usually disappear after stopping the medication. In summary, emergency contraception pills are a double-edged sword. While acknowledging their role as a backup option, it is also important to be aware of the possibility of ectopic pregnancy in the event of contraceptive failure.