How to support your hormonal health after taking the morning after pill

A woman with a morning after pill and a glass of water in our hands

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Strong Women


How to support your hormonal health after taking the morning after pill

By Lauren Geall

4 months ago

4 min read

It’s normal to feel some hormonal symptoms after taking the morning after pill. Here’s how to support your body and mind during that period, according to a women’s health GP.


Taking the morning after pill can feel like a hormonal whirlwind. One moment, you’re getting on with life, and the next you’re facing symptoms such as nausea, abdominal pain and mood swings.

Of course, all these symptoms are simply a sign that the pill is doing its job – influencing the hormones in your body (either by delivering a synthetic version of progesterone or blocking the hormone from working normally) to stop you from getting pregnant. When taken within 24 hours of unprotected sex, the morning after pill is thought to be 95% effective at preventing pregnancy – a number that drops to 85% when taken within 48 hours and 58% within 72 hours.

But while the morning after pill is both safe and effective, it can have a short-term impact on your hormones, which is why it’s important to know what to expect and the steps you can take to support your body through this time. 


What are the common side effects of the morning after pill? 

The morning after pill

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Before we get into the science, lets take a closer look at the side effects you can expect soon after taking the morning after pill. While the side effects you get will depend on the brand of morning after pill you take, common side effects people experience after taking one of these pills include:

  • Fatigue
  • Abdominal pain
  • Nausea
  • Headaches
  • Menstrual cycle changes (such as your period coming early or late)

How does the morning after pill work? 

To find out more, we spoke to Dr Theshanka Amarasinghe, a GP and life coach. Speaking on behalf of the women’s health platform Agora Health, here’s what she had to say. 

According to Dr Amarasinghe, both types of morning after pill work by influencing the way progesterone works in the body. EllaOne, a popular morning after pill that contains ulipristal acetate, works by attaching itself to the receptors that progesterone would normally attach to, preventing progesterone from having an effect – ie ovulation. Another popular brand, Levonelle, contains a synthetic form of progesterone known as levonorgestrel, which prevents ovulation by stopping the surge in luteinizing hormone (LH), which triggers the release of the egg.

“Because both types of the morning after pill work on progesterone hormone receptors in the body – and progesterone is the main hormone that gives you premenstrual symptoms (PMS) – your body might feel like you’re experiencing PMS,” Dr Amarasinghe explains. “However, symptoms tend to settle down within a few days.” 

Does the morning after pill have any long-term effects? 

A woman talking to her doctor

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The morning after pill is only designed to have a short-term effect, so it’s unlikely to cause harm to your long-term health of hormonal balance when taken as a one-off or very occasionally.

However, Dr Amarasinghe warns against making it a regular occurrence. “I have seen patients who take it multiple times a year,” she says. “In those situations, it’s worth considering that regular use might have similar risks to other contraceptive pills; for example, I discuss with my patients that regular use might be slightly increasing their risk of breast cancer.” 

How to support your hormonal health after taking the morning after pill 

Just because the morning after pill typically has a short-term effect, it doesn’t mean there aren’t things you can do to ease the impact of the pill on your body and mind. Below are just some of the steps Dr Amarasinghe suggests taking to support your hormonal health in the days and weeks after taking the pill.

1. Be kind to yourself

“Patients often feel guilty or embarrassed about needing to take emergency contraception, but it’s nothing to be ashamed of,” she explains. “You are taking responsibility for your sexual wellbeing, and that should be celebrated. However, the time after taking the morning after pill can feel stressful, especially the worry about whether or not it will work, so speak to a close, trusted friend or health professional about how you’re feeling. 

“In the meantime, make sure you get some rest, continue gentle exercise and try to carry on as normal with your day-to-day activities. Being gentle with yourself will help prevent adding any extra stress hormones to the mix.”

2. Eat wholesome, nutritious foods

“The side effects and stress of taking the emergency contraceptive pill might make you feel like comfort eating, but try to eat wholesome, nutritious foods instead, as this is more beneficial for your overall hormonal health,” she says. “If you feel sick, have smaller meals more frequently, including plain, easily digestible foods. It’s worth noting that if you vomit within three hours of taking the morning after pill, you may need to take a repeat dose very quickly, so speak to your doctor or pharmacist.”

3. Check in with your GP or local sexual health clinic

“After you have taken the morning after pill, it’s a great idea to check in with your GP or local sexual health clinic,” Dr Amarasinghe says. “You can discuss options for a regular form of contraception. The morning after pill is not as effective as regular forms of contraception in protecting you from pregnancy, and it does not protect you from sexually transmitted infections either. So you can help protect your womb health by getting a quick and simple STI test, too.” 


Images: Getty

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